Avricore Health Inc (TSX-V:AVCR, OTC:AVCRF), which is focused on delivering point-of-care testing and data solutions for pharmacies through its turnkey solution HealthTab, revealed that it has expanded its HealthTab network to the point where it has crossed 532 locations.
The Vancouver-based pharmacy service innovator said that in 100 of these locations it will be deploying Abbott’s ID Now, either in combination with Afinion 2 or as a standalone for virus detection and to assess the demand for infectious disease screening in community pharmacies.
“We are seeing significant demand for HealthTab as the pharmacist scope of practice expansion takes effect and in the anticipation of expanded healthcare funding,” said Avricore CEO Hector Bremner.
“We look forward to continuing our steady growth and adding value to our offering, such as the new testing options which ID Now brings.”
New pharmacy model taking hold
Avricore said the C$51.4 billion Canadian pharmacy business is evolving from being “product-focused” to being “service-focused.” Regulatory changes have been introduced to expand the scope of practice of the pharmacist to diagnose and treat minor ailments.
The 10-year funding agreement being finalized between the federal and provincial governments is expected to add funds to support new areas of work, noted the company.
Leading the way is the pharmacy walk-in clinic, where patients can get support for a range of issues that can now be assessed by the pharmacist. For minor ailments, chronic disease management and prescription renewals, the pharmacist can treat the patient, saving time and healthcare dollars, said the company.
A key tool for pharmacists is obviously point-of-care testing (POCT), not to mention the critical ability to easily share results with the patient and broader healthcare team, noted Avricore.
The secure, cloud-based HealthTab platform in over 530 locations gives pharmacists a greater role in primary care delivery while empowering patients to take more control of their health. The test menu includes up to 23 key biomarkers for screening and managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease. HealthTab has also recently added capabilities for bacterial and viral tests, such as strep and COVID-19.
New capabilities
Avricore said it will be deploying 100 Abbott ID Now instruments in collaboration with Abbott and Shoppers Drug Mart to assess the demand for infectious disease screening in community pharmacies. The company noted that there is current funding for this testing in some provinces.
“It is hoped that the success of the model will encourage the expansion of this critical service across the country,” added the company.
The addition of new instruments and tests demonstrates “the flexibility and strength” of the HealthTab platform as a solution for pharmacy-based point-of-care testing, pointed out Avricore.
Contact the author Uttara Choudhury at uttara@proactiveinvestors.com
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