There are not enough Pasifika pharmacists in New Zealand to meet the needs of the community, says the Pacific Pharmacists' Association.
There are about 300,000 Pacific people in New Zealand, but currently only 38 pharmacists in the country who identify themselves as having a Pacific background.
Medical jargon, current models of healthcare, and not understanding cultural behaviours are some of the barriers that Pacific people face when visiting a pharmacy.
L-R, Sheenal Kumar, Natalia Nu'u, Diana Phone & Kasey Brown Photo: RNZ Pacific / Sela Jane Hopgood
Call for more Pacific pharmacists in NZ
Association president Kasey Brown said Pasifika pharmacists could help navigate some cultural differences.
"Body language and culture is quite big and if there is no understanding of that, then that also makes it difficult to engage with your pharmacy, so it's not all just language, a lot of it is about culture and how we as Pacific people respond to the way we have been spoken to and how we like to involve more families rather than just being an individual."
"Medical jargon can throw anyone off fully understanding their medication needs, but it is knowing how to converse in a way where Pacific people do not feel threatened or embarrassed is essential."
"A lot of it is cultural differences and not understanding the best way to speak to someone around an illness and trying to explain those medications, 'on an empty stomach' what does that mean? Starving? Does that mean starving? We Pacific people like to enjoy food and in the company of other people, so it could be embarrassing bringing out your tablets."
Professional Practice Fellow at School of Pharmacy University of Otago, Diana Phone Photo: RNZ Pacific / Sela Jane Hopgood
Professional Practice Fellow at School of Pharmacy University of Otago Diana Phone said health literacy was often challenging.
"The health system in New Zealand is quite complex and if you are not from New Zealand, or even if you are from New Zealand and you are not from the health sector, it can be quite confusing for you to understand where you need to go or basic information about how to take your medicines and all that can be really confusing."
Ms Phone said having more Pasifika pharmacists would help break down some barriers that Pacific people currently faced in the healthcare system.
"You don't have to be a pharmacist to work in a pharmacy, you can also be a pharmacist technician, you can also be a pharmacy assistant, just being able to walk into a pharmacy and seeing a Pacific face, you have that instant connection."
Paediatric consultant at Middlemore hospital in South Auckland, Teuila Percival, agreed that more Pacific pharmacists was crucial.
"They often will go through the really practical aspects of medication with patients both in hospital and in the community and so it would be really good to have Samoan-speaking, Tongan-speaking, Cook Islands, Niuean pharmacists who can work with our communities.
"It would be great if we could have more."
The Pacific Pharmacists' Association is working closely with tertiary institutions to increase the awareness of the career.