Naturopaths launch ‘wellness for all’ program

Recognizing that alternative medicine is typically accessible to those with wealth, naturopathic doctors at The Creemore Apothecary are looking to change that with the Community Wellness Program.
Founder Kate Hunter has been offering the program at the Toronto Apothecary and now, in partnership with fellow naturopathic doctor Kathryne Petrov they are offering free and pay-what-you-can services in the Creemore area.
The Creemore Apothecary is offering free and sliding scale options for marginalized individuals, those with low/fixed income, BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ and those on government assistance.
The program has been available out of the Toronto office since April, either in person or virtual. Hunter said the program exploded once it was featured on The Marilyn Denis Show, going from two subsidized patients per month to eight per week.
The practitioners donate all or a portion of their time to the program and access a pool of donated or subsidized supplements and wellness products.
Hunter said the program is a continuation of her goal of increasing access to alternative medicine seeing as the whole point of opening the stores was to provide a way for people to talk to practitioners without having to make an appointment.
Hunter said anyone in any tax bracket is welcome to submit a request for services using the online application system to choose the level of payment they can manage.
Hunter said the program can be accessed by those who are experiencing long-term or situational income loss and financial uncertainty, due to illness or divorce for example. It also helps marginalized community members access care by practitioners from their own community.
Apply online at www.thecreemoreapothecary.com/wellness-for-all. For those without access to the internet, call 1-647-343-9355 to speak to the community wellness facilitator.
No one is declined based solely on the initial application.