Major US pharmacy chain plans to stop selling cigarettes

CVS Caremark, the second largest pharmacy chain in the United States, announced on 5 February that it would stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products in all of its stores by 1 October. It is the first national pharmacy chain in the US to take such a step.

The decision comes at a time when many US pharmacies are moving to provide more healthcare services, including in-store clinics, often in collaboration with local hospitals and medical groups.

In a statement Larry J Merlo, the company’s …