Walmart opening in-store pharmacy clinics in Canada

Walmart Canada has opened its first in-store pharmacy clinic.  

The retailer opened the clinic Wednesday (April 30) at a Walmart Supercentre in St. Catharines, Ont., with plans to open more in select provinces later this year.

Walmart said the clinics will offer a “one-stop-shop” experience for customers, serving as a clinic and pharmacy. 

The clinics will be located adjacent to an existing pharmacy within the retailer’s stores.  

Similar to a walk-in medical clinic, they'll provide patients the ability to meet with licensed pharmacists who can treat minor ailments—like UTIs, cold sores, allergies and skin conditions—conduct point of care testing (blood pressure, HbA1C, cholesterol) and offer medication management and support. 

"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, VP, health services, in a press release. "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."

The St. Catharines clinic is located at 420 Vansickle Road.