After initially planning to close down on April 30, a private care clinic in Sahali says it will stay open two months longer.

Dr. Chris Janz of the Kamloops Urgent Care Clinic says the clinic will now close permanently on June 30 instead. He says a “successful interim recruitment drive” will allow the practice to continue through the spring.

The reason for closing down is a shortage of physicians. Janz says it has operated for 15 years on McGill Road behind the Superstore.

“During that time, it was our privilege to serve some 20,000 people,” he says.

“We continue to work with Interior Health in the hopes of finding a longitudinal solution for vital and accessible primary care services for the communities affected by this closure.”

This is the second privately-operated clinic in Sahali to close down in the past two-and-a-half years. The Summit Medical Clinic shut down on Dec. 15, 2018. Health Minister Adrian Dix said there were personal reasons for that clinic closing down.