California has invested $3.6 million to launch PRIME Rx at the University of California San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, the first PRIME program at a pharmacy school. It aims to train pharmacists to practice in underserved areas, including along the U.S.-Mexico border.
The funding will go largely to scholarships over the four-year Doctor of Pharmacy program, according to an Oct. 12 news release. The program plans to recruit about 10 PharmD students a year and will include clinical training in community-based settings. It also aims to address pharmacy deserts by sending more pharmacists to federally qualified health centers, tribal health centers and community clinics.
The $3.6 million is a one-time allocation and is expected to support the program for three years while the school pursues permanent state funding. UC San Diego is also working with Southwestern College on a pharmacy technician associate degree program funded separately by the state.
The program takes aim at a workforce gap pharmacy leaders have flagged all year. Health system leaders warned in February that pharmacist and technician shortages would persist into 2026, and others said shortages are limiting where systems can grow. California leads the country in nominal pharmacist pay, but its cost of living cuts the adjusted figure sharply.
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