North America's first women's-only pharmacy opened Tuesday July 7, 2009 in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside known as "Lu’s: A Pharmacy For Women"

Even though the Downtown Eastside has more pharmacies per capita than any other Vancouver neighbourhood, according to Caryn Duncan, executive director of Vancouver Women's Health Collective a lot of women told her they do not go to pharmacies in the troubled neighbourhood because many of them focus on dispensing methadone to heroin addicts.

Duncan continued, "Women felt, 'I want a woman pharmacist. I want to know that when I walk in the door, I'm going to be getting sound women-centred care from a pharmacist. I can talk to her about emergency contraception or a vaginal infection, something that is very personal and intimate".

It was a “three-year labour of love,” said Duncan, “a first step toward a women’s clinic, which is my dream,”

The University of British Columbia's school of architecture was employed to create a welcoming atmosphere for the new full-service pharmacy.

Lu's: A Pharmacy for Women, named after volunteer Lucette Hansen, 85, a long time supporter of the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective. Lu joined the organization as a volunteer in 1988 after retiring from running a family planning program in rural Quebec. Lu gave her energy and her time to staff the Women's Health Resource Centre, serve on the Steering Committee, and support the Vancouver Women’s Health Collective’s community outreach initiatives.

In addition to the Women-Only feature of the pharmacy it also offers lower dispensing fees, and a confidential consulation area.

Although the pharmacy was designed to service the women of the Downtown East side it is open to all women. Duncan says women are welcome to drop in, relax and take in the full-service pharmacy.