Generic medications are on the rise, and to make them more affordable, especially for the uninsured, the Williamsburg Health Foundation has stepped in with a pilot program at Olde Towne Medical Center to make it easier for people to acquire them, according to a recent press release from the Foundation.
“It was always assumed that generic medications would be affordable, but that’s not necessarily proving to be true,” said Allison Brody, the Director of Community Resource Development and Engagement at the Williamsburg Health Foundation. “This is a pilot to look at providing truly available, accessible generic medication.”
The program is one of several initiatives that are part of a $3.5 million grant from the Foundation to fund health programs in the area, including those providing behavioral health services and access to medications.
For the past few years, the Foundation has focused on funding opportunities for residents to lead healthier lives and make healthier choices, according to the press release.
One example is SHIP, the School Health Initiative Project, which promotes healthier eating in the Williamsburg-James City Count Schools. That program, for example, covered the costs of removing deep fryers in favor of convection ovens in schools, as well as the installation of salad bars.
Also for the first time this year, some grant money, $28,400, is being awarded to the James City County Fire Department to assemble In-School Trauma Response Kits throughout public schools in the area.
The Williamsburg Health Foundation was established in 1996 from the partnership between Sentara Healthcare and the former Williamsburg Community Hospital. Since its inception, it has awarded $74 million in grant money to various health initiatives.
