InstantScripts, the online telehealth service owned by retail giant Wesfarmers, has opened its own pharmacy.
Popular online-only clinic InstantScripts has opened a physical location – but any patients who walk through the door will still see a doctor virtually.
InstantScripts is wholly owned by Wesfarmers, which also owns retail pharmacy chain Priceline and pharmacy supplier Australian Pharmaceuticals Industries (API).
On the InstantScripts website, prospective patients can choose to book for a doctor consultation, a pathology referral, a medical certificate, a prescription refill or a non-GP specialist referral.
Patients can get a prescription received during an InstantScripts consult dispensed at any pharmacy in Australia, although it does also have a prescription drug delivery service.
Its latest venture is InstantScripts Pharmacy Health Hub, located in the Brisbane suburb of Sandgate.
Despite the inclusion of “InstantScripts” in the name, it is primarily a pharmacy business.
“InstantScripts Pharmacy Health Hub recognises that pharmacists are very often a patient’s first port of call when a health issue arises,” Wesfarmers Health Chief Customer Officer Richard Pearson said.
“The new format supports pharmacists to practise to the top of their scope of practice in support of their patients.
“Where appropriate, InstantScripts [Pharmacy Health Hub] pharmacists will have the ability to offer patients who cannot access their regular GP the opportunity to consult with an InstantScripts telehealth doctor.”
It is also worth noting that GP clinics commonly use the term “health hub” in their names – a Google search turns up Health Hub Narwee (Narwee, NSW), Hill Street Health Hub (Roseville, NSW) and The Health Hub Family GP (Glenelg, SA), to name a few.
When asked whether the name may confuse customers, a spokesman for InstantScripts said “the inclusion of ‘Pharmacy Health Hub’ symbolises a pharmacy-based service”.
According to Mr Pearson, the “small format, health focussed pharmacy” will complement Wesfarmers’ existing Priceline network.
“Importantly, we have put considerations around patient safety and choice at the core of developing this new format pharmacy concept, and these are embedded in how the team will be delivering in-store services,” he said.
The pharmacy health hub will also provide preventive health checks, vaccinations, assistance with chronic disease management and “convenient access to scripts and health care products”.
Wesfarmers plans to open more InstantScripts Pharmacy Health Hubs in Victoria and NSW later this year.