.png)
MedEssist announced that 100 pharmacies utilizing its MedEssist Access To Care program, have transformed into Pharmacy Health Clinics using their software platform, marking a pivotal shift towards more accessible healthcare. The company's AI-enabled platform transforms traditional pharmacies into full-service health clinics, empowering pharmacists, alongside physicians and nurse practitioners, to diagnose and treat over 50 conditions including strep testing, contraception, travel health and more.
The announcement comes as healthcare systems across North America face mounting pressure. In Canada, over 6 million people, 15% of the population, lack access to a primary care physician, and the situation is more acute in the United States. MedEssist's technology-enabled model of care addresses this crisis by leveraging an underutilized asset: the neighborhood pharmacy.
"Reaching 100 Pharmacy Health Clinics is more than a milestone—it's proof that we can solve healthcare accessibility by meeting patients where they already are. Every day, we see pharmacists using our platform to deliver care that may have gone untreated. We're turning trusted community pharmacies into the front line of accessible healthcare"
- Joella Almeida, CEO and Co-Founder, MedEssist
As the only end-to-end turnkey platform, MedEssist enables a complete transformation from pharmacy to clinic; delivering diagnostics, clinical assessments, and prescriptions in under 15 minutes without requiring pharmacies to hire additional staff. The impact is already significant. More than 700 pharmacies across North America use MedEssist's technology and 100 have fully converted into Pharmacy Health Clinics.
"The technology exists to transform every pharmacy in North America with a complete end-to-end solution that works within existing pharmacy workflows. Our platform handles everything from clinical decision support to patient engagement; enabling pharmacists to expand their scope of practice without adding complexity or overhead. That's what makes this model scalable across thousands of locations."
- Michael Do, Founder & CTO, MedEssist
Through these collaborative health clinics, patients receive immediate care for conditions that would otherwise require hours of waiting or days to secure an appointment, and pharmacies are able to better serve their communities. MedEssist launched select pharmacy pilots with well-received patient reception in the United States with a similar model.
"MedEssist is addressing one of the most pressing challenges in healthcare: access. The regulatory environment is shifting to empower pharmacists, and MedEssist has built the only turnkey platform that enables pharmacies to capitalize on this opportunity."
- Samara Gordon, Hyperplane VC
The company's momentum is reinforced with a new funding announcement from Staircase Ventures, bringing their total funding to date to $6.5 million. This capital enables the company to accelerate its expansion across North America and deepen its partnerships with pharmacy chains, independent pharmacies, and healthcare systems looking for scalable solutions to accessibility.
"Primary healthcare is broken: while healthcare spending by governments continues to escalate, 15% of Canadians and 25% of Americans do not have a family doctor. Yet 90% of North Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy. Pharmacies can play a significant role in delivering effective, low-cost health care, including diagnosing and prescribing medication for many conditions. Yet this requires new technology; MedEssist is the only end-to-end, turnkey tech platform that enables pharmacies to fulfil this role.”
- Janet Bannister, Founder and Managing Partner, Staircase Ventures
MedEssist enables pharmacies to become health clinics in order to better meet the needs of their customers. The company's comprehensive AI platform allows pharmacists to diagnose and prescribe medication for over 50 conditions, with additional capabilities for payment processing, delivery, appointment booking, refill reminders, and full marketing support. Founded by Joella Almeida and Michael Do, MedEssist is transforming how North Americans access healthcare by turning trusted neighborhood pharmacies into accessible points of care.
For media inquiries, or interviews, please contact:
Rahima Shokoya
Clinical Operations, MedEssist
rahima@medessist.com
(289) 401-8752
