Provincial release:
More Nova Scotians will soon have access to a community pharmacy primary care clinic closer to home.
Fourteen new pharmacies will join the pilot program this fall. In addition, the six Lawtons Pharmacy Walk-in Clinic+sites have transitioned to the Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic program, uniting both models under one project umbrella.
“As our population grows and demand for care increases, pharmacists will continue to play a larger role in supporting the health and well-being of Nova Scotians,” said Premier Tim Houston. “We’re committed to continue building on the success of this program because it has helped thousands of Nova Scotians receive primary healthcare closer to home.”
The first community pharmacy primary care clinics launched in February 2023. Since then they have provided more than 190,000 services to Nova Scotians.
Pharmacists in these clinics provide a full scope of practice, including treating minor ailments and providing medication management for chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). They can also diagnose and treat strep throat and provide additional publicly funded vaccines, among other services.
A complete list of services and locations that are booking appointments is available at https://pans.ns.ca/cppcc. New locations will be added as they open.
“This project has transformed the way primary care is delivered in Nova Scotia. In a year and a half, community pharmacy primary care clinics have contributed to the decrease of emergency room visits by close to 10 per cent, provided over 190,000 services to Nova Scotians, and revitalized the pharmacy profession. What we are doing in Nova Scotia is having real impacts on the pharmacy profession and the delivery of primary care services worldwide. We are showing the world what pharmacy teams can do, and how we can change healthcare for the better. We are delighted to expand these clinics into more communities.”
— Allison Bodnar, CEO, Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia
“This project is transforming pharmacy, and my team couldn’t be more delighted to be part of it. We are inspired by the primary care services we will provide our community in Hammonds Plains as an official community pharmacy primary care clinic. Clinics in phase 1 and phase 2 have paved the way for success. In less than one year, my colleagues have made a real contribution to primary care services in Nova Scotia. As a pharmacist, I am proud to join them.”
— Alison Anderson, pharmacist and owner, Hammonds Plains PharmaChoice
Quick Facts:
– after expansion there will be 45 community pharmacy primary care clinics across the province
– the Province is investing about $440,000 this year to expand the pilot to 14 more sites