Pharmacies needed in NT
September 5, 2012
PHARMACIST Rollo Manning has
hit out at the new NT Govt’s lack of
action in supporting efforts to
establish Health Board pharmacy
businesses in the Northern Territory.
“To read the publicity blurb
behind the ‘Growth Town’
future program of the Henderson
Government it appeared that here
was the answer,” he said.
“At last something would be done
to create real jobs in communities
through local entrepreneur
opportunities.
“But alas nothing happened
except an army of bureaucrats
hide behind the glossy websites
and colourful brochures,” he added.
Manning is the architect of the
Tiwi Health Board pharmacy
business which has been running
for the past eleven years, but says
that despite his best efforts to
repeat the venture in other towns,
he has received no governmental
support.
According to Manning, the
Northern Territory has one pharmacy
to every 7,900 people, compared to
the national figure of one pharmacy
to every 4,200 people.
“There is the business out there
due to the people having a health
status recognised as four times
worse than non Indigenous
Australians,” he said.
“A population of 1,000 remote
living Aboriginals need the same
amount of medicines under the
Pharmaceutical benefits Scheme as
4,000 people in mainstream.
“Towns like Maningrida, Wadeye,
Galiwin’ku and Jabiru should be
able to support their own pharmacy
business and I can assure anyone
that there are the pharmacists
ready and willing to be a part of
such a movement,” he added.
Meanwhile, discussing the
inclusion of pharmacists in the
primary health effort, Manning
predicted the move would be
welcomed by practitioners.
“A point of sale for all things
towards good health would be the
location of the pharmacy business,”
he said.
“A whole Government approach is
needed and this includes the
Department of Health,” he added.
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