News release

Primary Care Available in More Pharmacies in May

Health and Wellness

NOTE: A complete list of community pharmacy primary care clinics follows this release.

More Nova Scotians will soon be able to access primary care at their local pharmacy.

The Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic program will expand to 26 locations from 12. Nine new locations will open Monday, May 1, and the other five will open by the end of May.

“Pharmacists live and work in our communities and are one of the most accessible healthcare providers in Nova Scotia,” said Brian Comer, Minister responsible for the Office of Addictions and Mental Health, on behalf of Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. “As our province and population quickly grow, we’re expanding how and where Nova Scotians can receive primary care close to home.”

The first 12 community pharmacy primary care clinics launched in February. Since then, these clinics have provided more than 9,000 services to more than 5,000 Nova Scotians.

Pharmacists in these clinics can treat and prescribe medication for patients with common illnesses or who have chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They can also provide care for strep throat, including diagnosis and treatment.

The complete list of services and information on booking appointments are available at: https://pans.ns.ca/cppcc

Quotes:

“The expansion of this project and its early success further demonstrates the outstanding role our pharmacy teams play in healthcare. This project will change how pharmacy delivers service in the future – not only in Nova Scotia but nationwide. We are at the forefront of something amazing.”

– Allison Bodnar, CEO, Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia

“We are so excited to be part of this extended project. This project allows us to bring services to more people in our community and at no cost. We are so lucky to have the opportunity to build upon a game-changing project for healthcare.”

– Diane Harpell, pharmacist and owner, The Medicine Shoppe, Dartmouth

“For me, the proof of this model is in the daily interactions I have with patients who otherwise would be in emergency rooms, or worse, not attending to their health needs at all. I am full of pride and inspiration watching our team and our colleagues at other sites providing this necessary care in our communities.”

– Colleen MacInnis, pharmacist, TLC Pharmasave, Shelburne

Quick Facts:

  • the Province is investing $1.2 million to expand to the 14 new locations
  • these new clinics complement Pharmacist Walk-in Clinic+, a partnership between Nova Scotia Health and Lawtons Drugs; locations include New Glasgow, Truro, Lower Sackville and New Minas

Additional Resources:

News release – Healthcare Clinics Tested at Community Pharmacies: https://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20230131002

Pharmacy Clinics Fill a Void (on Nova Scotia Health news site): https://www.nshealth.ca/news/pharmacy-clinics-fill-void-if-isnt-transformation-health-care-i-dont-know-what-would-be

Action for Health, the government’s plan to improve healthcare: https://novascotia.ca/actionforhealth/docs/action-for-health-strategic-plan-for-nova-scotia.pdf

Mandate letter for the Minister of Health and Wellness: https://novascotia.ca/exec_council/letters-2021/ministerial-mandate-letter-2021-DHW.pdf

New community pharmacy primary care clinics opening May 1:

  • Amherst Pharmasave, 158 Robert Angus Dr., Amherst
  • Balser’s Pharmachoice, 83 Warwick Rd., Digby
  • Chester Pharmasave, 3785 Hwy 3, Chester
  • Guardian Elmsdale Pharmacy, 269 Hwy 214, Elmsdale
  • Pictou Pharmasave, 33 Water St., Pictou
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 255 Commercial St., Glace Bay
  • The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy, 133 Baker Dr., Dartmouth
  • The Medicine Shoppe, 708B Reeves St., Port Hawkesbury
  • Windsor Pharmasave, 30 Gerrish St., Windsor

New community pharmacy primary care clinics opening by the end of May:

  • Lawrencetown Pharmachoice, 491 Main St., Lawrencetown
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 6025 Almon St., Halifax
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 3430 Joseph Howe Dr., Halifax
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 766 Sackville Dr., Lower Sackville
  • Teasdale Apothecary, 65 Beech Hill Rd., Antigonish

Previously announced community pharmacy primary care clinics:

  • Bridgewater Guardian Pharmacy, 42 Glen Allan Dr., Bridgewater
  • Brookline Pharmacy, 105-6 Bloom Lane, Bedford
  • City Drug Store, 369 Main St., Yarmouth
  • Guardian Bedford, 535 Larry Uteck Blvd., Bedford
  • North Sydney PharmaChoice, 107 King St., North Sydney
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 1124 Bridge St., Greenwood
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 912 East River Rd., New Glasgow
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 254 Prince St., Sydney
  • Shoppers Drug Mart, 118 Wyse Rd., Dartmouth
  • The Medicine Shoppe, 664 Prince St., Truro
  • TLC Pharmasave, 157 Water St., Shelburne
  • Wilsons Pharmasave, 213 Commercial St., Berwick

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