Longs Drug Stores Corp. has confirmed plans to lease space in two of its O'ahu stores for walk-in medical clinics operated by Access Medical Clinics.

Longs said the clinics are scheduled to open at its Town Center of Mililani and 'Ewa Beach stores by the end of the year.

The independent clinic operations will be staffed by physicians overseeing physician assistants and nurse practitioners who will provide basic healthcare such as treatment of colds, flu, infections, rashes and strep throat. Services will be delivered on a walk-in basis, so no appointments will be necessary.

The Advertiser reported the plan by Longs to open the clinics at the two stores last month, though the retailer then would say only that it was considering adding walk-in medical clinics in Hawai'i and Mainland stores.

Bob Ingersoll, group vice president of Hawai'i store operations for California-based Longs, said in a statement that the retailer is constantly looking for ways to promote health and enhance customer convenience.

"Longs Drugs welcomes Access Medical Clinics into our stores," he said.

Access Medical Clinics was formed earlier this year by Todd T. Kubo, a physician at Straub Kaneohe Family Health Center and medical director of utilization management for AlohaCare, and Raymond R. Bihis, a registered nurse who is the healthcare services manager for University Health Alliance.

Longs on the Mainland has independent clinics in four stores as well as Quest Diagnostic Labs in nine stores.

The company's establishment of clinics in two Hawai'i stores comes on the heels of Walgreens last month opening the first of numerous stores in Hawai'i that will produce stiff competition for Longs.

Walgreens, the nation's largest drugstore chain, anticipates opening as many as 25 to 30 stores in the state. The Illinois-based retailer has also been opening healthcare clinics in its stores, but has not disclosed plans to do so in Hawai'i.