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Community pharmacies say they're under increasing pressure due to funding issues and the influx of discount chemist chains, forcing dozens to close their doors.
70 community pharmacies have closed in the last four years according to the Pharmacy Guild.
Last year 30 were shut down, largely replaced by discount chains such as the Chemist Warehouse and Countdown supermarket pharmacies.
A group of pharmacists has taken a legal case against Te Whatu Ora claiming it has issued invalid contracts to discount pharmacies to operate, the judgement is yet to be issued.
In Auckland, Seema Rambisheswar permanently closed her Life Pharmacy store in Glenfield just over a week ago, after working there for 22 years - and owning it for 14 years.
She talks to Kathryn about what forced the closure, and Pharmacy Guild Chief Executive, Andrew Gaudin outlines the multiple stressors on the sector.
