PRESS RELEASE
23 March 2007
For immediate release

Spoonful of Advice Helps the Medicine Go Down

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is disappointed by moves to reduce the number of rural pharmacies and replace them with ‘medicine depots’, where prescriptions are mailed to a pick-up point from a chemist in town.

“The spoonful of advice dispensed by rural pharmacists is invaluable,” said RWNZ president, Sherrill Dackers. “Medicine depots just don’t cut it when it comes to support, advice, comfort and security.”

Many rural communities already suffer from a lack of doctors and nurses, and the pharmacist is the health professional people see most often.

“Downgrading the pharmacy service in rural areas is yet another example of the breakdown of the fabric of rural communities.”

A recent study in Australia has revealed that people living in rural towns that have a pharmacy have higher prescription rates compared with those living in similar sized communities with no pharmacy.

Rural Women New Zealand believes ease of access to medicines through local pharmacies is vital to providing equitable health outcomes for rural New Zealanders. Accessing a pharmacy many kilometers away in another town may not be a viable option, especially if there is an urgent need for the medication.

“It seems ironic that the Government is spending large sums of money to improve medical services in rural areas, while one of the most important and straightforward means of delivering health care is being eroded,” said Mrs Dackers.

ENDS

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