At the drugstore, the nurse will see you now

While Bill 102 has typically been looked at with a mixture of concern and fear from the pharmacy community, there might be a bright side. There may be potential for new services and revenue streams as a result of the new cognitive services fees.

From the Globe and Mail:
The latest generation of the Rexall drugstore has a nurse on duty six days a week, podiatrists, chiropractors and other health professionals on hand regularly, and a four-seat classroom for health-related seminars.

Call it the new competitive front in drugstore retailing wars.

Pharmacies have been battling each other for years by flogging more shampoos, cosmetics, food and even electronic gadgets.

Now, with new drug legislation in Ontario that is expected to eventually spread across the country, the outlets are looking to transform themselves into patient counselling centres too. ...more