Nova Scotia adding 14 pharmacies to primary care clinic program

N.S. expands pharmacy care program Nova Scotia is expanding its pharmacy care program nearly two years after it was first introduced.

Fourteen pharmacies in Nova Scotia will join the community pharmacy primary care clinic program this fall, said the province in a news release Thursday.

Premier Tim Houston said pharmacists will play a larger role in the health and well-being of Nova Scotians as the population grows and demand for care increases.

“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,” Houston said.

Pharmacists at primary care clinics provide a “full scope of practice,” the release said. Their services include treating minor ailments, medication management for chronic diseases, diagnosis and treatment of strep throat, and vaccinations, among other services.

There will be 45 community pharmacy primary care clinics across Nova Scotia when the expansion is complete.

The first pharmacy primary care clinics opened in Nova Scotia in February 2023. The province says they have provided more than 190,000 services to Nova Scotians through 12 pharmacies.

Allison Bodnar is the CEO of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia (PANS). She said the project has changed the way primary care is delivered in the province.

“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,” Bodnar said. “What we are doing in Nova Scotia is having real impacts on the pharmacy profession and the delivery of primary care services worldwide.”

In an interview, Bodnar said 100 students enrolled in pharmacy programs at Dalhousie University this year compared to 65 last year.

The province is spending approximately $440,000 to expand the program to 14 more pharmacies.

A full list of services and locations that are booking appointments is available at the PANS website, with new locations being added when they open.

The following pharmacies will be added to the program this fall:

-With files from Jonathan MacInnis

For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.