Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy expands facility
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy has been helping those without access to health insurance in Mobile and surrounding areas for 27 years.
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On Friday afternoon, they held an open house to celebrate the expansion of their facility.
People like Lydia Ruffin utilize Ozanam Pharmacy all the time.
'I never expected to be in this position,' Ruffin said.
She is one out of many Americans who don't have proper health insurance, so getting the proper medication and treatment she needs has always been a challenge.
It's a challenge for so many.
'Some people have to choose between, can I pay my rent, or can I buy food or can I get the medications I need?' Mobile Archbishop Thomas Rodi said. 'Ozanam Pharmacy makes it possible for people to get the medications, the prescriptions that they need for their lives.'
'The patients we provide services to are all uninsured,' Ozanam Pharmacy Executive Director Shearie Archer said.
Ruffin called Ozanam lifesaving.
'Just one of my medications would be almost $900 a month,' she explained.
Friday afternoon, the pharmacy showcased their expansion and upgrades including expanding to 4,600 square feet, a new room to provide food, offices and mental health resources.
Archer said their pharmacy buys generic medication and relies on help from clinics and pharmaceutical companies to operate, but looming tariffs could present challenges.
'You know, most medications aren't made in the United States,' she explained. 'That will affect the cost of our medication. Yes, it will.'
Ruffin said Ozanam's Pharmacy is people focused.
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'It's a blessing to be a part of it, and the people who work here are just beyond words,' she explained. 'They preserve the dignity of the individual.'
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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