A new pharmacy has opened and is looking to revive the old neighbourhood feel of individual attention and time to chat.Island Health Pharmacy, located on Point Finger Road, opened its doors to patients in December offering a full range of prescription medication dispensed with a smile.“I’m a talker, if I don’t have a client and have 15 minutes to spare, I will sit down and talk to you — whether it be to chat in general or reviewing your specific medications,” said co-owner and pharmacist, Karen Leseur. “The business allows me to talk to patients and get to know them. I like the interaction.”She added that her patients enjoy the convenience of the pharmacy’s location and the ample parking as well.Though the pharmacy is situated in the building that houses the group of physicians who are part of the Island Health Services, they are separate entities.Ms Leseur is a co-owner with Kiran and Lauren Shah, who own Point Finger Road Pharmacy located just down the street at 16 Point Finger Road, which is fast becoming a bustling centre of healthcare services.While the pharmacy primarily focuses on filling prescription medications, it also offers a select range of over-the-counter products.So far, four months in, Ms Leseur says business has been steady.“It’s going as well as it can, being a new business,” she said. “We’re getting a little busier each week so we’re heading in the right direction. I feel very positive about where it’s going for a small business.”If someone was looking to start a small business, healthcare might be the area to focus on. The healthcare business in Bermuda, like the rest of the world, is ever growing. In August of last year, the Bermuda Health Council’s National Health Accounts Report 2011 showed that the Island spent a total of $628.4 million in 2010 on healthcare, or 11 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).Ms Leseur has worked in some of the Island’s larger retail pharmacies for 25 years until this opportunity came along. The idea of starting her own business had always been in the back of her mind as her father planted the seed many years ago.“My dad always told me to open up a pharmacy,” she said. “Between that and Kiran, who was looking for a business partner and it being the right time for me — everything fell into place.”Right now, Ms Leseur is the only employee at the pharmacy along with a couple locums, temporary substitutes, on occasion. She hopes to eventually grow the business enough to hire an additional staff person.Ms Leseur is also interested in promoting the pharmacy profession to the young people of Bermuda. This summer, she is mentoring a young college student who is pursuing a degree in pharmacology.“It’s a great choice for Bermudians to consider,” she said. “It has great flexibility, you can interact with the public and it’s a stable job — the profession is going to be needed for years to come.”The Island Health Pharmacy is located at 40 Point Finger Road and is open from 8:30am to 5:30pm, Monday through Friday.For more information, call 236-8585 or visit www.ihp.bm