Walmart Canada launches in-store pharmacy clinics
Walmart Canada shared that it is opening its first pharmacy clinic today in St. Catharines, Ontario, with additional clinics opening later this year.
"The new in-store clinic space will enhance our licensed pharmacists' ability to provide direct consultations and healthcare services within their expanded scope of practice to our St. Catharines patients, beyond dispensing medication via the pharmacy. The opening of these clinics continues to highlight Walmart Canada’s commitment to enhancing access to affordable, personalized care for Canadians while delivering best-in-class patient care," the retailer said.
With the pharmacy clinic and pharmacy services under one roof, patients will be able to access one-stop-shop experience for their healthcare needs. Each of the new pharmacy clinics will be located adjacent to an existing pharmacy within a Walmart Canada store.
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Similar to a walk-in medical clinic, they’ll provide patients the ability to meet with licensed pharmacists who can treat minor ailments (UTIs, cold sores, allergies, skin conditions, etc.), conduct point of care testing (blood pressure, HbA1C, cholesterol, etc.), and offer medication management and support. Patients are welcome to schedule an appointment online or walk in.
“One in 5 Canadians don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner they see regularly. Our Walmart pharmacy clinics will help close this gap by becoming an easy access point for our pharmacists to provide non-urgent consultations and services beyond dispensing medications,” said Alex Hurd, vice president, Health Services. “Our goal is to help ease the strain on emergency departments and traditional walk-in medical clinics. This is a significant step for the healthcare needs of the communities we serve, and we look forward to continuing to provide our customers with affordable and accessible healthcare.”
“We’re excited to offer a new level of accessible healthcare to our patients,” said Kiran Basra, senior director, pharmacy and field operations. “We’ve been granted a unique opportunity here in Canada with the expanded scope of practice for pharmacists. By leveraging our pharmacists’ expertise, we’re able to make a lasting impact on our patients by providing more personalized and effective healthcare solutions so they can continue to save money and live better.”
Located at the Walmart Supercentre at 420 Vansickle Road, the St. Catharines pharmacy clinic will operate Monday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Services provided will include:
- Select minor ailment consultations (UTI, cold sores, allergies, skin conditions, etc.)
- Select vaccinations and immunizations
- Medication Therapy Management (MTM)
- Prescription renewal
- Health testing (blood pressure, HbA1C, cholesterol, etc.)
- Wellness counselling (smoking cessation, lifestyle counselling, etc.)
- Chronic condition management support (heart disease management, asthma and COPD management, medication reviews, etc.