From country chemist to community health centre – Tim Siv takes Clare Pharmacy into the future
If you’ve ever been so sick that the thought of making yourself look semi-presentable and walking into a chemist just adds to the pain, Clare’s entrepreneurial Pharmacist, Tim Siv, has you covered!
In a first for Australia, Tim has unveiled the massive redevelopment of his Terry White Pharmacy in Clare, turning the country chemist into a community health centre, complete with parenting facilities, consulting rooms and a revolutionary new medication dispensing system that will change the future of healthcare.
The new BD Rowa outdoor dispensing system will allow customers to have scripts dispensed and pharmaceutical products ordered via the Terry White app, before being picked and packed by a robot and delivered through the ATM-like ‘hole in the wall’ upon scanning a QR code.
Tim said the ability for people to have access to medication after hours, especially those in country areas, will not only be a bonus for customers but will also reduce the spread of illness and allow people more privacy.
“People in the country might have to drive an hour or more to pick up a script. Some have to pack the car with sick kids, and it can turn into a whole day ordeal,” he said.
“I’ve got young kids. I understand the inconvenience.”
Convenience for some, personalised service for others
But the German-made technology wont be taking away the customer experience for those needing more personalised health advice. Tim, who owns several pharmacies in the Mid North and Barossa Valley, is passionate, not only about providing health advice but for growing a valuable service that he sees as the way of the future.
With Pharmacists now able to prescribe medication for UTIs and the contraceptive pill, he says the newly renovated Clare store has been based around where he sees the future of pharmacies.
“People don’t have days or weeks to wait to see a doctor when they’re suffering, especially with things like mental health. It’s important. It can be a matter of life and death.”
The newly expanded Clare store includes a new compounding lab, four consulting rooms for vaccinations and confidential health support, a baby change and feeding room, kids playpen, an entire beauty wall, a baby care wall, and professional medicines wall.
“It’s been a dream of mine to build what I’ve built here. It’s great to have the first outdoor dispensary in Australia launched regionally.”
And Tim’s no stranger to following his dreams. His motto is -“It’s better to try and fail than to fail not trying.”
For a kid who fled Cambodia after his family narrowly escaped death by the Khmer Rouge, he thinks that if he can achieve great things, anyone can! There’s a whole lot more to that story and the incredible work Tim has done for New Hope Cambodia. Do yourself a favour and listen to his story on Annabel Homer’s Voice It podcast – click here for part one.
