Yarmouth’s new community pharmacy primary care clinic is officially open.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held today at City Drug Pharmachoice.

It’s one of 12 pharmacies taking part in the pilot project through the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia and the provincial government.

They’re now able to renew more prescriptions, and provide chronic disease care and mental health and addiction services.

The clinic was built as part of major renovations to the business in downtown Yarmouth.

City Drug Pharmachoice owner Mathieu Maltais says it’s a great opportunity to show what pharmacists can do.

“By providing these newly available services, as well as the services we’ve been providing for a while, I think we’ll be able to take a load off the outpatient system,” says Maltais.

He says they can take on a lot more patients, as more people discover that City Drug offers these services.

“A lot of people don’t quite understand where this fits yet. We can do prescription renewals, often same day. We can test for things like strep throat. Soon we’ll be able to order lab tests, and we’ll be able to do complete chronic disease management. It allows us to use our knowledge to help our patients.”

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A grand opening was also held at TLC Pharmasave in Shelburne this morning.

The province is expected to expand the project in May.