... for your health, your children's health and the health of the environment.
The Green Dispensary Story
An article in the Australian Financial Review in the late 1980s by Robert Gottliebsen, where he postulated that no company would prosper in the future unless it addressed "green" issues as they impinged on their industry, was one of the reasons for the formation of The Green Dispensary pharmacy.
At that stage there was a strong movement towards self-medication using so-called "natural" products … and in many instances herbs and vitamins were being consumed with little or no regard to proven efficacy. Furthermore, health food stores were springing up everywhere and consumers were receiving advice from store-owners with little or no formal training in nutrition.
Notwithstanding the benefit of using fresh non-treated fruit and vegetables as well as supplementation with vitamins and minerals where warranted, there was a danger that in some instances, mainstream medicine was being ignored in this headlong rush to self-medicate.
Pharmacist partners Laurie Broomhead and John Mitchell decided that there was an opportunity to redress this imbalance and to take advantage of the tertiary trained pharmacists in their group to educate and guide the patient in a more balanced way.
John Mitchell and pharmacist manager, Anne Pfitzner, undertook a two year post graduate course in Nutritional Pharmacy from which they each received an Advanced Diploma.
As Complementary Medicines are often plant based, The Green Dispensary in Stirling South Australia, was launched with a large section devoted to nutrition, vitamin and mineral supplementation as well as "on-the- spot" internet access to any information required. Explanation of printouts by the pharmacist on duty was then provided patients who generally struggled with the meanings of medical terms.
In South Australia, The Green Dispensary pharmacies have since opened at Hackham, Mt Barker, Erindale, Lobethal and Norwood.
But more was to follow …
South Australia's only dedicated Compounding pharmacy
Individual Prescriptions for Individual Patients.
The Green Dispensary in Stirling had been preparing Progesterone cream for individual patients, when prescribed by doctors, since the mid 1990's. However, June 2001 heralded the beginning of The Green Dispensary Compounding when founding partner, John Mitchell attended a lecture from the Professional Compounding Centres of America (PCCA).
After discussion with pharmacist partners Laurie Broomhead and Nick Evins, John undertook post-graduate training in the compounding of human and veterinary products. So began the fascinating and interesting journey which continues today.
An area at the rear of The Green Dispensary in Stirling was allocated for the preparation of oral and topical compounds. It wasn't long before more space was required and The Green Dispensary Compounding was transferred to a larger area in the Erindale pharmacy where it remained until October 2005.
South Australia's Only Dedicated Compounding Pharmacy
The Green Dispensary Compounding Pharmacy, to date South Australia's only dedicated compounding pharmacy and one of only a few in the whole country, was opened at Beulah Rd Norwood on October 10 2005. Pharmacist Antony Condina, a partner since early in 2005, was given responsibility for the day to day operation of the compounding laboratory.
This state-of-the-art facility has set standards for others to follow. The Green Dispensary Code of Practice and our modern equipment has surprised [and received considerable praise from] many health professionals who have taken time to visit our facility.
Accuracy, consistency and efficiency at The Green Dispensary
The Green Dispensary Compounding pharmacy uses modern plant and equipment previously available only to larger pharmaceutical manufacturers. The pestle and mortar is still used in some circumstances but our modern equipment enables accurate and consistent pharmaceutical compounding.
Our quality control system calls for the regular analysis of our finished compounds for accuracy and consistency.
MT BARKER