Call grows for private pharmacy to improve medicine access in Taveuni

Taveuni residents are calling for the establishment of a private retail pharmacy, saying the lack of a chemist is forcing patients to travel to Savusavu or Labasa to buy prescribed medicines when they are unavailable at the hospital pharmacy.

Naqara market vendor Viniana Ranadi said the absence of a private pharmacy continued to create hardship for residents, particularly when prescribed medicines were out of stock at the hospital pharmacy.

"Sometimes simple medicines like those for skin diseases are not available at the hospital," she said.

"There is no chemist here in Taveuni, and there is a need for one to be established."

Ms Ranadi said travelling to Savusavu or Labasa to obtain medication was expensive and placed additional pressure on families already facing the high cost of living.

"We have to travel either to Savusavu or Labasa to get the prescribed medicines. We have to spend at least over $100 just to get there for the medicines," she said.

She said establishing a private retail pharmacy on the island would improve access to essential medicines and save residents from unnecessary travel expenses.

"The setting up of a proper chemist in Taveuni is much needed," she said.

Ms Ranadi said people should not have to leave the island or spend significant amounts of money to obtain medicines that could be made available locally.

"It will help the people here, especially those who cannot afford the cost of travelling outside the island," she said.

She hoped the Government would consider the long-standing need for a chemist and support its establishment in Taveuni.

Another Naqara resident, Ram Naresh, said access to healthcare remained one of the biggest challenges faced by island communities.

"I know the struggles when living on an island, especially when it comes to accessing health," he said.

Mr Naresh said there had been occasions when he and members of his family became ill, but only limited medicines were available.

"If anyone puts on their shoe then they will understand how difficult it is here to live," he said.