Maningrida Pharmacy medal

THE Northern Territory’s Maningrida Pharmacy Service has been awarded the Administrator’s Medal in Primary Health Care, with the accolade given by the Honourable Vicki O’Halloran AM at a ceremony at Government House in Darwin last week.

The awards recognise health professionals who are striving to customise their services and engage patients and peers to improve health in the NT.

The Maningrida Pharmacy Service was developed as a collaboration between Mala’la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation and local community pharmacy United Chemists Palmerston in 2014.

The service aimed to address the lack of access to pharmacy services for Maningrida residents, initially established as a three day per fortnight service, with further success seeing funding secured last year to extend it to a fully comprehensive five day per week onsite pharmacy service.

A local health worker and pharmacist work together to tailor individualised medication management plans for clients, and home medication reviews are also offered by the service.

United Chemist Palmerston owner Shelley Forester said the initiative has helped overcome the issues of transience and workforce limitations that exist in remote communities in the Territory.

She’s pictured above holding the award with, from left: Denise Ashworth, Mala’la Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (MHSAC); NT Administrator Vicki O’Halloran; and Charlie Gunabarra, chairperson of MHSAC.