News

Buronga's new pharmacy - open for business

Tue, 01 Dec 2015 04:10:00

A pharmacy will be the latest addition to Buronga’s expanding range of locally-based health and community services when it opens its doors for the first time today.

One Health opened in a purpose-built medical centre on the Silver City Highway in August, providing access to locally-based doctors, allied health and medical services for the first time.
The Buronga Pharmacy is opening today in the business space adjoining the clinic, providing a one-stop-shop for the health needs of the Buronga Gol Gol community.
Pharmacy owner Hany Morkos said it was an exciting step forward for the local community.
“We already operate the pharmacy at Dareton, and One Health and ourselves have been providing pickups and deliveries of medications for the convenience of patients until now,” Mr Morkos said.
“Now we’re excited to open Buronga Pharmacy for business, meaning better care for patients with a more personalised, face-to-face service,” he said.
“Our pharmacist-in-charge Nicholas Wong will be on-site, and being right next to the One Health Medical Clinic just means everything will be right there for patients and customers when they need it.”
The interim manager of One Health Trudi Sakkas said the clinic itself had grown rapidly in the three months since it opened.
“We are providing a full GP service with two male and two female doctors, a pathology service and we are continuing to work on expanding the range of allied health and specialist services we have available,” Ms Sakkas said.
“We have more than 600 active patients on our books, including some from as far as Robinvale and Red Cliffs, and that clearly shows what level of need there was in the community,” she said.
“Now with the pharmacy right next door, we are reaching the level of service we think is needed for Buronga-Gol Gol.
“Our books are still open to new patients, though, and we have recruited a fourth GP, Dr Dharminder Singh, who will do consultations on Mondays and Tuesdays from tomorrow.”
Ms Sakkas said the clinic was also considering introducing Saturday morning consultations if there was sufficient demand.
“With a population of nearly 3000 people in Buronga-Gol Gol, and growing, people are really excited about the chance to get the medical services they need in their own local community,” Ms Sakkas said.
“Every day we are having people comment how happy they are to have doctors and health services right here in their own local community,” she said.