After a story about the row was published yesterday in the Otago Daily Times, Waihemo Pharmacy owner Adrian Graamans and the DHB had a two-hour meeting.
"Thanks very much to everyone who helped me bring my problems to the attention of the public and in turn get the SDHB to talk.
"That was what was needed from the get-go and it happened today, finally.
"It still remains a mystery as to why it required this sort of effort, but it has absolutely been worth it," Mr Graamans said.
For several years, Mr Graamans has been in dispute with the board about complicated changes to pharmacy funding, and he refused to sign the 2017-18 pharmacy contract.
The board responded by saying it had made contingency plans to ensure the supply of medications to East Otago in the event of the dispute not being resolved.
Yesterday, Mr Graamans felt his concerns had been "sorted and accepted".
"I am actually very encouraged by what happened today. It was a first; and the general openness was appreciated.
"Even if the opinions were different, we got some common ground and both sides have moved enough.
"I will in turn make a commitment to use this new, but positive agreement to put the past behind and move on for everyone involved," Mr Graamans said.
SDHB planning and funding senior manager Glenn Symon was pleased it had been resolved.
"We are pleased he has reconsidered his previous position, meaning we do not need to initiate our contingency plans to ensure continuity of medications to this community, and we sincerely thank those providers who were willing to assist in finding an alternative solution for this situation," Mr Symon said.
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Comments
It is quite disturbing that the SDHB bureaucrats took steps to find an alternate supplier of medicines when all that was required was a two hour conversation and a bit of compromise from both parties.
If the time wasting the SDHB actions have involved are typical of their normal proceedings, it is little wonder they are in the mess they are. Someone at SDHB should be publicly apologising for the unnecessary upset and aggravation they have caused Mr Graamans and the Palmerston community.