Montréal, Québec, September 25, 2023 – It is with great pride that five pharmacist-owners affiliated with Pharmaprix opened today the network’s first dedicated pharmacy care clinics, a new initiative that will provide Quebecers with quick and convenient access to various high-quality primary care services.
With an average size of 450 square feet, these care clinics feature a lobby, a waiting room, and enclosed consultation rooms, allowing clients to access dedicated pharmacists and a team of healthcare professionals. They will be able to receive a range of healthcare services, including the treatment of conditions that do not require a physician’s intervention, such as hormonal contraception, smoking cessation, shingles, Lyme disease prevention, eczema, urinary tract infection, or allergic rhinitis. Pharmacists also offer comprehensive vaccination services and can monitor and adjust medication for several chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and hypothyroidism, to help patients manage their illnesses.
The first five Pharmaprix-affiliated pharmacies equipped with these new care clinics are located in Montreal (2), Gatineau (2), and Quebec City (1). They are fully operational and open to the public; individuals wishing to access these services can now schedule appointments at pharmaprix.ca/cliniques.
Since 2021, several new procedures and services can be provided by pharmacists and are fully reimbursed to the public. This has led Pharmaprix-affiliated pharmacist owners to rethink how services are offered within their pharmacies.
“We understand that Quebecers need faster access to more primary care services, and pharmacists continue to demonstrate their ability to provide meaningful clinical support to the population,” says Jeff Leger, President of Pharmaprix. “That’s why we are changing the way we support Pharmaprix-affiliated pharmacist owners to ensure they can continue their active role in delivering care in the province.”
“Pharmacists are, more than ever, front-line healthcare professionals, and the deployment of these care clinics at Pharmaprix is an additional tangible initiative to facilitate access to quality healthcare services and ultimately prevent overburdening other resources in the healthcare system,” says Jean Thiffault, Vice President of Strategic Development and Professional Affairs at Pharmaprix. These care clinics are fully integrated into the pharmacies, which have undergone a complete redesign to enhance the overall patient experience.
A concept that meets the population’s expectation
As evidenced by the results of a Léger survey[1] conducted last August on behalf of Pharmaprix, Quebecers strongly support these types of pharmacy care clinics. Eighty-two percent (82%) of Quebecers consider it very likely (40%) or somewhat likely (42%) that they would visit a pharmacy care clinic rather than a traditional medical facility to receive certain healthcare services covered by RAMQ. Furthermore, 92% of those surveyed believe that expanding the role of pharmacists allows the population to access healthcare services more quickly.
Pharmacists-owner affiliated with Pharmaprix who have opened a pharmacy care clinic include:
- El Shaimaa Saliem, corner of Van Horne Street and Victoria Street, near Plamondon Metro in Montréal;
- Mathieu Pellerin, corner of Sherbrooke Street East and Tricentenaire Street in the Pointe-aux-Trembles neighborhood in Montréal;
- Georges Farah, Gréber Boulevard in Gatineau;
- Janik Létourneau, Main Street in the Aylmer sector of Gatineau; and
- Julie Jean, Henri-Bourassa Boulevard in Quebec City, just off Highway A40.
These pharmacy care clinics are the first of their kind in Quebec, following successful launches of clinics in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and recently, New-Brunswick.
About Shoppers Drug Mart Inc.
Shoppers Drug Mart Inc. is one of the most recognized and trusted names in Canadian retailing. The company is the licensor of full-service retail drug stores operating under the name Shoppers Drug Mart® (Pharmaprix® in Québec). With almost 1,350 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® stores operating in prime locations in each province and two territories, the company is one of the most convenient retailers in Canada. The company also licenses or owns 47 medical clinic pharmacies operating under the name Shoppers Simply Pharmacy® (Pharmaprix Simplement Santé® in Québec). As well, the company owns and operates 43 corporate Wellwise by Shoppers Drug MartTM stores and an ecommerce site Wellwise.ca, making it the largest Canadian retailer of home health care products and services. In addition to its retail store network, the company owns Shoppers Drug Mart Specialty Health Network Inc., a provider of specialty drug distribution, pharmacy and comprehensive patient support services, MediSystem Inc., a provider of pharmaceutical products and services to long-term care facilities and Lifemark Health Group, Canada’s leading provider of outpatient physiotherapy, massage therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, mental health, and other ancillary rehabilitation services. Shoppers Drug Mart is an independent operating division of Loblaw Companies Limited.
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Source: Pharmaprix
Information:
André Fortin
Massy Forget Langlois Public Relations
(514) 928-3828
[1] Leger Omniweb survey, conducted from August 11-13, 2023