What is the difference between a retail pharmacy and specialty pharmacy?

The difference between a retail pharmacy and specialty pharmacy is the type of medical conditions treated, type of medication dispensed, and level of involvement with patient treatment. 

​

Retail pharmacies, also called community pharmacies, typically provide OTC and prescription medications to treat common conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and pain. 

​

Specialty pharmacies focus on patients with chronic health conditions requiring complex treatment therapies. 

​

Retail pharmacies dispense a wide range of medications for common illnesses to large populations. These medications may or may not have high costs, are widely available at retail pharmacies, and typically do not require extensive ongoing clinical management and patient monitoring.

​

Specialty pharmacies dispense a limited number of medications used to treat chronic and complex illnesses such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and rare genetic conditions. These medications generally have a higher cost, may be limited in supply, and require ongoing monitoring and extensive patient education.

​

Specialty pharmacies may opt to obtain additional certifications, such as accreditation from the Pharmacy Compounding Accreditation Board (PCAB) or certification from an organization approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

​

Both retail pharmacies and specialty pharmacies must obtain state pharmacy licenses to operate legally. States license retail pharmacies under a community or retail pharmacy category while the appropriate license category for specialty pharmacies vary by state.