A Park Slope pharmacy is launching a weeklong program offering New York residents free online doctor visits.
Super Health Pharmacy, located on Fifth Avenue near Bergen Street, has partnered with Well Revolution for its inaugural Free Health Care Week, running from Sept. 23-28, to connect people with licensed medical providers for general health advice, treatment options, or prescriptions.
To participate, New Yorkers can stop by Super Health Pharmacy during the event to receive a unique code, which grants access to consultations with Well Revolution’s network of medical professionals.
Michael Rubio, chief medical officer at Well Revolution, told Brooklyn Paper that once a patient gets a code from pharmacy staff, they can initiate a chat with a licensed professional, who will then set up a video or audio call with the patient if needed.
Rubio said Free Healthcare Week was inspired by the ongoing doctor shortage in New York and closures of community pharmacies, “which are the backbone to delivering quality healthcare.”
“Independent pharmacies proved that during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they see patients more frequently than any other doctor or clinician,” said Rubio. “Well Revolution is engaging the community and trying to help independent pharmacies be a point of care.”
A report published earlier this year by the Private Care Development Corporation found that New York state lacks an adequate number of primary care providers, with doctors sounding the alarm about staffing shortages that are resulting in longer patient wait times.
Staff at New York City Health and Hospitals were recently ordered to shorten patients’ primary care visits down to 20 minutes in order to accommodate more patients, Gothamist reported.
Sajed Rahman, owner of Super Health Pharmacy, said the decision to participate in Free Healthcare Week was prompted by clientele feedback about the lack of affordable healthcare options and the long wait times for primary care appointments in the city — which can be over 22 days in some cases.
“We’ve always believed in the power of community care, especially in light of the ongoing doctor shortage,” said Rahman. “During COVID-19, New York’s emergency laws enabled us to provide essential healthcare when hospitals were overwhelmed. We helped ensure that basic health issues didn’t escalate into major problems.”
“With those laws now rolled back, access to care is a constant struggle,” he added. “Free Healthcare Week is about making healthcare more accessible and convenient for our community. We’re proud to offer this service alongside Well Revolution as a meaningful step toward addressing the growing need for affordable healthcare.”
