I’m scripting this from the flooded far north coast of New South Wales, the place throughout me persons are contending with the terrible and sudden penalties of a catastrophic flood.
I’ve labored in rural well being for a very long time and this has been the worst I’ve skilled it. It’s nicely established that these dwelling in flood-prone areas usually have already got extra monetary and well being points than others.
Amongst these penalties is the necessity to handle medicines safely, and typically urgently discover and purchase medicines you should keep alive and wholesome or preserve ache at manageable ranges.
The far north coast has a excessive inhabitants of older individuals, a lot of whom want day by day medicines comparable to insulin to outlive.
Whereas I used to be selecting up medicines for a member of the family this morning, one other older individual turned up on the pharmacy with a script. She was operating out of her medication right now however the pharmacy didn’t have the required medicines left. She continued her hunt for medicines on the final pharmacy within the space we’ve entry to.
These are simply a few of the challenges individuals face with regards to medicines in a catastrophe zone.
From bizarre errand to a life or dying problem
Every week in the past, should you wanted to high up your medication provides, you possibly can pop all the way down to the native chemist. The script can be crammed, and provides plentiful. It will be a straightforward journey.
Right now throughout floods, an errand like which means confronting challenges comparable to:
many chemists being underwater or badly flooded
the chemists which can be open are contending with a surge of demand as individuals flock there to purchase medicines
energy is down in lots of locations, that means on-line techniques for managing scripts are unimaginable to entry and fridges used to retailer medicines comparable to insulin at house will not be working
cellphone and web is down or patchy in lots of locations
petrol could be very onerous to get and operating out, so many individuals can not drive to the chemist
many individuals have misplaced their vehicles too or have water broken vehicles
some individuals can not depart house resulting from landslides or floodwaters
roads are being minimize off and provide strains disrupted as a result of the freeway is blocked off
getting a brand new script just isn’t as straightforward as heading to the physician’s workplace; some GPs are additionally flooded in, their practices inundated or not-operational and plenty of are unable to get to work and/or caught with out energy, cellphone or web.
These challenges will not be distinctive to our space nor are they distinctive to floods. Individuals who have survived bushfires and different disasters have confronted related points.
However with disasters predicted to turn into extra frequent and extra intense because the local weather adjustments, it does increase the query what techniques we will put in place to cope with these challenges in future with out placing individuals in danger.
What could be carried out?
Firstly, if you’re in an emergency, please contact the SES on 132 500.
When making ready your evacuation plan, guarantee you will have an inventory of all of your medicines, care plans, scripts, Medicare and different health-care playing cards particulars and different necessary medical info prepared.
If an evacuation warning is out to your space, guarantee all of your info and medicines are packed. Retailer medicines that want to stay chilly in an esky with ice bricks, so you’re prepared when you should evacuate. The esky is necessary; energy is probably not accessible for some time while you depart house.
A number of apps can be found to assist in making ready for a catastrophe and taking your medicines safely, such because the Crimson Cross’ RediPlan emergency survival plan or the MedicineWise app.
If you recognize a flood is heading your manner, it’s additionally helpful to have additional money at hand. Throughout this flood catastrophe, digital cost techniques weren’t working in lots of locations within the Northern Rivers. Having some money can additional cut back already very annoying circumstances.
In case you’re flood-affected, in want of medicines and might get your self to a pharmacy, it might be OK even you probably have misplaced your scripts within the floods. The pharmacist could possibly name the GP on their cellular.
When you have web entry, use social media to see if others can assist with transport or supply of medicines. Many individuals really feel powerless throughout disasters and can be eager to assist.
And there could also be some strictly restricted circumstances underneath which a pharmacist can present a small emergency provide of sure medicines with out a script.
Based on Queensland Well being:
In an emergency scenario the place you aren’t capable of attain a group pharmacy, your GP’s prescription could be crammed by a Queensland Well being public hospital pharmacy. Nevertheless, please bear in mind that hospitals might not inventory the total vary of medicines prescribed by your GP, because the wants of hospital and group sufferers are completely different.
You should utilize My Well being Document to get sure key particulars in your medicines and well being particulars, should you’ve bought web entry.
After the floods, you will need to have a look at changing medicines which have been in touch with flood water or different contaminated water. This contains drugs, liquids, injections, inhalers or lotions. Contact your physician or pharmacist as quickly as potential and organise alternative medicines.
You too can contact the NPS Medicines Line 1300 MEDICINE (1300
633 424) or the healthdirect helpline (1800 022 222 or Nurse on Name in Victoria) if you’re not sure or have questions on your medicines.
Extra broadly, entry to medicines throughout a pure catastrophe is complicated, and we have to proceed sturdy partnerships and collaboration between organisations to make sure entry throughout disasters.
Having a superb unfold of chemists round completely different components of a city or rural areas helps increase the probabilities that even when some are hit by disasters, others are capable of function and supply individuals with medicines (which is what we’ve seen within the 2022 floods in some areas).
Privately owned and hospital-run helicopters have been used to get medicines to residents in flood-affected areas of Brisbane; making certain disaster-prone areas have the infrastructure and machines wanted for this type of assistance is necessary.
COVID compelled us to assume creatively about delivering medical provides to individuals who want them however are unable to go to a pharmacy. This exhibits what’s potential when wants should be met.
Considering rigorously about individuals’s well being throughout and after catastrophe is essential to constructing catastrophe resilience. Guaranteeing uninterrupted provides, additional assist for weak individuals and entry to medicines is a core a part of that objective.
Sabrina Pit has acquired funding prior to now from NHMRC.