Naava as a Part of a Well-Being Concept

Naava provides Finnish pharmacy with pure, fresh air and a touch of nature

In the Ympyrätalo pharmacy, near the center of Helsinki, both the staff and the customers enjoy fresh and healthy indoor air, even though the pharmacy is located in a busy area.

In addition to traditional services, the pharmacy offers its customers a range of other health care supporting services. A wellbeing corner is one of them. There the customers can explore health and wellbeing literature and enjoy a refreshing smoothie surrounded by the fresh and natural air that Naava provides.

Ympyrätalo pharmacy is a member of Finland’s biggest pharmacy chain YTA co-operation pharmacies and was a pilot in the chain’s “ People’s Pharmacy” project. The project aimed to increase customers’ own active role regarding their personal health care.

A visible part of the new concept is also the pharmacy’s new retail space, which is designed to be customer oriented and service friendly and also a place that inspires to increased wellbeing. Healthy and fresh indoor air is an important part of the inspiring environment.

Sustainability as a key value

Respecting nature and sustainability is in the interest of pharmacist Tiina Vaitomaa, which leads her life both at home and at work.

“The quality of indoor air is a major concern for me, and is something I really pay attention to, especially because I live and work in the center of the city. Naava is an amazing innovation, which enables us to breathe healthy and fresh indoor air despite the location”, told Vaitomaa.

The sustainability angle can be noticed in many activities of the pharmacy. The collection of medicine waste has been made very easy, plastic bags are charged in order to encourage the customers to use reusable bags and the need of printing is minimized.

“For us, it is important that also our partners act responsibly in a way that supports health and nature”, continued Vaitomaa.

A visit to a pharmacy can be an experience

The pharmacist Tiina Vaitomaa believes in on-going development and new ideas, so she was eager to lead the pilot pharmacy of YTA pharmacy chain’s “People’s Pharmacy” project. The services and retail space were designed in co-operation with the Finnish service design agency Hellon.

“The basis of our plan were the customers. We wanted to pay attention to the ways in which ways a pharmacy can support the customers’ health comprehensively and also to make customers’ visits to the pharmacy as easy and enjoyable as possible."