Independent pharmacy owners working around the clock
BY JASON COHEN
While people are working
from home, laid off or
furloughed, many were
deemed essential and are
required to say on the job.
One of those is Roger Paganelli,
who is a third generation
pharmacist and
owns Mt. Carmel Pharmacy,
705 East 187th with his two
brothers Michael and Armando.
Since the COVID-19
crisis began, pharmacies
are making special accommodations
to deal with this
escalating situation, including:
Offering curbside prescription
pickup so patients
don’t have to get out of their
cars.
Waiving prescription delivery
fees.
Offering pill packaging
(individually packaging
each day’s medications for
patients) for patients whose
caretakers can’t be in contact
with them.
“It’s been challenging for
us,” Paganelli said. “I don’t
think anyone could have
anticipated what we’re experiencing
here.”
His grandfather, Armando
owned a pharmacy
at 151 and Morris and his
father followed in his footsteps
when he opened Mt.
Carmel in 1964. In 1991, Paganelli
and his brothers
purchased it from him.
Paganelli, 56, explained
that typically their business
is prescriptions, but
with so many stores shuttered,
people are buying basic
things like batteries and
baby oil.
“People are coming in
here for everything,” he
said.
In order to keep his customers
and staff safe and
healthy, they have instituted
new protocols. The
store is wiped down hourly,
all staff and customers must
wear gloves and masks,
there is signage on the front
of the store, there is a kiosk
outside where people can
pick up and order medicine,
and the hours changed from
8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. to 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m.
“My staff and I took every
bit of guidance from the
governor, mayor and CDC
from day one,” Paganelli
said. “We felt it was important
to limit the exposure
of the customers and workers.”
BRONX TIMES R 6 EPORTER, APRIL 3–9, 2020 BT
He acknowledged that it
is a big risk being open. He
is on the board of the Pharmacists
Society of NY and
has been in constant contact
with fellow pharmacists.
“It’s a decision that we
made, but we didn’t make or
take lightly,” he explained.
“We’ve heard the good, the
bad and the ugly from our
colleagues.”
In his near 30 years in
the business, he has witnessed
Hurricane Sandy,
the recession and 9/11, but
none are comparable to the
coronavirus.
“Seeing people walk
around wearing masks and
gloves and dying at a unconscionable
rate is unheard
of,” he said.
“I don’t think I’ve ever
seen anything like this,”
he stated. “9/11 had a catastrophic
impact. It changed
the world as we know it.”
Looking to the future, he
recognizes some businesses
may never recover from being
closed for a few months.
“This is something that
is incredibly scary,” Paganelli
said.
Roger Paganelli, owner of Mt. Carmel Pharmacy
.Photo courtesy Alabastro Photography.
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