Dec. 16, 2015 By Michael Florio
An independent pharmacy focused on personal relationships and unique sales items opened recently on Northern Boulevard.
Viva Pharmacy and Wellness opened at 80-14 Northern Blvd. on Dec. 2. Owner Latchmin Raghunauth said the pharmacy offers a variety of special services, which she believes will provide a personal connection that big chain companies cannot match.
She cited one-on-one “medication therapy management” sessions, for customers to determine the most effective medicines for them.
“Customers would be able to have 30 minutes to an hour of in-depth consultation with a pharmacist,” Raghunauth said. “They can discuss their medical history and figure out what medicines work best and which they had bad reactions to.”
“No other pharmacy that I know of offers this,” she added. “But it is what everyone deserves.”
Raghunauth hopes to launch this service as clientele begins to grow.
Viva Pharmacy and Wellness is currently in the process of expanding the types of insurance plans it accepts, which Raghunauth said she hopes will complete by the spring. Currently the pharmacy accepts Cigna and OptumRX.
She also noted that the pharmacy offers organic products, including dairy items and poultry, as well as standard pharmacy items from over the counter medicines to skin care products to teas. Viva also offers flowers, greeting cards by Design Design and balloons.
Raghunauth plans to add beer and wine to the shelves in coming months.
She added that if a customer is looking for a product that the pharmacy does not carry they can order it specially. The pharmacy will accept electronic prescriptions and send text message notifications when a prescription is ready for pick up.
Raghunauth decided to open at this location after searching different neighborhoods in Queens, including Flushing and Fresh Meadows.
Once she saw this space was available she decided it would be a good location due to the diversity of the neighborhood and what she saw as a lack of independent pharmacies.
“We love the diversity and culture in the neighborhood,” she said. “We think we can be a great addition to the community.”
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