The move reverses a trend of rural pharmacies closing.
The arrival of the pharmacy outlet was particularly pleasing, Waikouaiti Events Centre Trust chairman Andrew Noone said.
Waikouaiti had been without a pharmacy for more than three years.
Prescriptions would still be filled at the Waihemo Pharmacy, in Palmerston.
The qualifications of the assistant running the outlet would allow the Waikouaiti shop to stock a range of pharmacy-only medicines, Waihemo Pharmacy owner Adrian Graamans said.
Deliveries of prescriptions from Palmerston would be made to both the new agency and to the Waikouaiti Food Centre after the pharmacy outlet had closed for the day, to give Waikouaiti customers the best service.
The outlet's opening hours would probably be similar to the East Otago doctors' surgery, which would be next door in the events centre.
Among the other towns in Otago which had seen pharmacies close, Roxburgh had gained a "depot" for an Alexandra pharmacy.
The Waikouaiti outlet would be a step above a depot, Mr Graamans said Mr Noone said the Maori Health Centre Tumai Ora, which is based in Karitane, would also rent two offices in the events centre.
Other space would be occupied by the East Otago Health Centre and the Waikouaiti Plunket rooms.
The floor joists being supplied from Australia for the gymnasium at the centre were not up to specifications and would have to be replaced.
This would mean that the opening of the gymnasium and an official opening of the events centre would be delayed until July, Mr Noone said.
The other businesses would all open as scheduled in late May and early June.
