SAFFORD — The next stage in pharmacy service in the Gila Valley is about to begin.
Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center held a ceremonial ground-breaking Monday for development of its new pharmacy building, to be located near the main entrance on 20th Avenue.
The 3,540-square-foot facility will cost about $2.5 million and is expected to be open to the public by Summer 2026.
Randy Bryce, who served as director of pharmacy services before recently being named the hospital’s vice president and chief operating officer, said the hospital has been working on development of an “open pharmacy” for about four years.
“It’s an open pharmacy, so we will take patients from anywhere,” Bryce said. “There are some benefits that, if you are one of our patients and you come there, there is some additional oversight that we can layer in, clinically.”
He also said that, with MGRMC being a nonprofit hospital and able to access the 340-B Program, the hospital will be able to obtain medications at a lower cost, basically paying the government cost rather than typical wholesale.
– David Bell Photo/Gila Valley Central
MGRMC CEO Dr. Bart Carter said money generated by the pharmacy will be put back into the hospital to further expand services.
“It’s not going to be a huge money-maker for the hospital . . . but it will be profitable. We’re not going to lose money,” Carter said.
The facility will offer walk-up service as well as drive-through.
