With many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians left without a family physician, more and more people are relying on their local pharmacists for a variety of needs.

Dr. Ashley Waghmare, President of the Pharmacists Association of NL, says they’re seeing an influx in patients seeking health care advice from pharmacies.

Waghmare says it’s not necessarily a bad thing as pharmacists have always played a role in providing primary care.

She says pharmacists do the best they can to provide refills on appropriate medications. They’re also available to point people in the right direction when in need of additional resources.