Medication delays when roads closed

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Receiving medications proved a problem for East Coast patients and pharmacies during last week's storm.

Horouta Pharmacy and Gordon's Pharmacy both deliver prescriptions twice a day to various Coast locations, but the service was disrupted when State Highway 35 was closed.

Medications were later delivered by helicopter.

A Health New Zealand spokesman said pharmacies worked with civil defence to arrange the service.

The storm also affected supplies of new pharmaceutical products.

Kevin Pewhairangi, of Horouta Pharmacy, said supplies to his pharmacy stopped when State Highway 2 between Wairoa and Napier was closed.

Additional sources of medication were ordered from northern suppliers, but that took several days, he said.

Sean Shivnan Pharmacy had supply issues on Wednesday and Thursday, but “we had everything by Friday”, said Mr Shivnan.