The CrestClean team enjoyed a fantastic evening at the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards He Tohu Mauri Ora on Saturday at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre. The black-tie gala brought together people from across the primary healthcare sector to celebrate the people making a difference in their communities.
CrestClean sponsored the Business Achievement Award for the second year running. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Timea Venter from MyDispensary Pharmacy & Clinic in west Auckland.
Timea has owned the pharmacy since 2009. With 17 pharmacies now operating within a 5km radius, she has built a business that stands out by offering patients free 10-minute consultations. These conversations give people the opportunity to raise health concerns they might otherwise put off addressing.
The idea grew from conversations with customers waiting for their prescriptions. Timea would sit down and chat with them. The more she talked with her patients, the more they shared which improved the way she was able to help.
She went on to redesign the pharmacy to include a consultation room, giving patients a private space to discuss their health in more detail.
The award judges recognised MyDispensary’s approach to combining preventive care, behavioural support and follow-up to help patients manage their health.
“I am particularly impressed by the integration of preventive care, behavioural support and structured follow-up into a cohesive, patient-centred model. This entry represents an exciting vision for the future of community pharmacy.”
The pharmacy’s approach has also attracted attention beyond west Auckland. After meeting with Timea, Associate Minister of Health and ACT Party leader David Seymour launched the party’s Pharmacy First plan. “What Timea is doing, we want to do throughout New Zealand,” he says.
North Harbour Regional Master Franchisee Rachel Kumar presented Timea with the award.
We’d also like to congratulate Browns Community Pharmacy and Far North Pharmacy, whose management team was also a finalist in the Business Achievement Award category.