Over 26% of independent pharmacy owners have ownership in two or more pharmacies.

The most commonly offered services by independent pharmacies are delivery services.

Some independent pharmacies offer an assortment of gifts and greeting cards.

There are just slightly over 1,800 independent pharmacies operating as the only retail pharmacy within their rural community.

The association says its members include 40,000 independent pharmacies, about 60 percent of the nation's 65,000 pharmacies.

Beyond the mergers, chains have taken over independent pharmacies, providing the opportunity to close old stores and open others under the new concept.

Experts say that independent pharmacies are not the only drug retailers struggling.

Therefore, only independent pharmacies are likely to qualify for the exemption.

These utilities may go the way of the independent pharmacies.

On the other hand, he said, he was surprised to learn that five new independent pharmacies had opened in the state within a month.