Pharmacy will stay open — owner
THE Southern District Health Board says it has contingency plans to provide pharmacy services to East Otago if it cannot resolve a row with Waihemo Pharmacy owner Adrian Graamans.
Mr Graamans has refused to sign the annual pharmacy contract starting July 1 because of a longrunning dispute over funding changes.
However, Mr Graamans emphasised the Palmerston pharmacy will stay open regardless of whether the contract is signed.
‘‘Nobody will go without, the inference that there is a risk to the community is unfounded.
‘‘The health of the community is not a risk, just my financial viability,’’ Mr Graamans said.
He said complicated changes to pharmacies’ funding had left him progressively worse off financially.
Changes introduced a few years ago had failed and ‘‘that is why we have been looking for a new way for two years and are now extending the failed contract for one more year’’.
The board said it offered Mr Graamans a onemonth extension to resolve the issue.
Mr Graamans declined that offer, saying it was presented as an ‘‘ultimatum’’.
‘‘It would have been completely different [if] the letter had said something like we can use this time to talk and sort things out.’’
In a posting on Facebook, Mr Graamans said the board would not talk to him about the problem.
‘‘They are relying on intimidation and the prospect of my financial ruin to make me sign.
‘‘They do not seem to regard retaining a pharmacy service for East Otago community as important.
‘‘Nobody from the DHB has made any effort to discuss my contract, not once. This is a demonstration of their disrespect to our community, not just me,’’ the posting said.
Southern DHB planning and funding acting director Liz Disney said the board’s priority was ensuring continuity of medication supply to East Otago.
‘‘We are concerned that Mr Graamans has chosen not to sign the national contract, and therefore threaten the withdrawal of the medication dispensing service he provides, as part of these negotiations.
‘‘We will continue to work with Mr Graamans and other providers, and have contingency plans in place to ensure this service is maintained in Palmerston should Mr Graamans choose to no longer deliver this service.’’
Ms Disney said the board had met Mr Graamans many times over the years to resolve his concerns.
The two parties even disagree on the nature of Mr Graamans’ concerns. Ms Disney said they centred on local initiatives rather than the overarching framework, but Mr Graamans said his concerns were wideranging.