Trusted, local, and close to home—pharmacies make healthcare more equitable for Canadians in every corner of the country.
When Canadians think about getting care close to home, they’re often thinking about their local pharmacy—open evenings and weekends, with the flexibility to walk in without an appointment or schedule one in advance, from pharmacy teams who know them by name. Community pharmacies are the most reachable front door to the health system: 95 per cent of Canadians live within five kilometres of one, and there are more than 12,000 community pharmacies serving neighbourhoods across the country.
That proximity isn’t just convenient—it’s an equity lever. Rural and remote communities face persistent barriers to primary care. Though roughly 16 per cent of Canadians live in rural areas, only about 7 per cent of physicians practise in those areas, creating structural gaps that make timely care harder to find. In addition, the share of adults reporting access to a regular health-care provider has dropped—from 85.8 per cent in 2022 to 82.8 per cent in 2023—leaving about one in six Canadians without ongoing primary care. Projections suggest this gap will widen in the coming years, underscoring the urgency of solutions that support our system today and prepare it for future needs.
Closing the care gap
Pharmacies help bridge that divide by acting as healthcare destinations—places where people can receive advice, medications, vaccinations, and increasingly, assessments and treatments for common conditions. Across all provinces, pharmacists can assess and prescribe for minor ailments, providing same-day treatment for issues like urinary tract infections or seasonal allergies. This not only spares patients a trip to urgent care or the emergency department but also offers peace of mind knowing help is available close to home. At the same time, it eases pressure on family practices and hospitals, demonstrating how smart use of pharmacy teams can expand access without the need for costly new infrastructure.
Trust is the foundation of access, and Canadians trust their pharmacists. A recent national survey found 95 per cent of Canadians hold a positive impression of pharmacists, reflecting confidence built through everyday interactions—medication reviews, chronic-disease management, and vaccination advice. When care is familiar and close by, people are more likely to seek it early, adhere to treatment, and stay well.
Strengthening care where it’s needed most
“When care is only available to those who can take a day off work, travel long distances, or wait weeks for an appointment, inequity grows,” says Sandra Hanna, CEO of Neighbourhood Pharmacies. “Pharmacies are embedded in every community—urban, rural, and remote. By integrating pharmacy professionals fully into primary care and public health, and enabling them to practise to their full training, we remove barriers and help Canadians access safe, timely care where they live.”
This is a practical blueprint for health equity: use the network we already have. With thousands of pharmacies close to most households—backed by extended hours and a trusted workforce—pharmacy-led services can ease pressure on an overstretched system while improving patient outcomes. Policymakers can accelerate this progress by sustaining fair funding for pharmacy services, allowing pharmacy teams to practise to their full scope, and integrating pharmacies into team-based care pathways—especially for people in rural and remote settings.
Access shouldn’t depend on your postal code. It should depend on a health system that meets you where you are. Canada’s pharmacies are ready.
To learn more, please visit neighbourhoodpharmacies.ca.
