Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 16-03-2018

Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa says snaking queues for chronic medication at health facilities will soon be a thing of the past with the launch of the Pharmacy Dispensing Unit (PDU).

The Health Department, in partnership with non-profit organisation Right to Care and Right ePharmacy, launched the PDU in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Thursday.

The PDU is the first of its kind in Africa and operates like an ATM, only in this case it dispenses medication, giving it the name the ‘ATM pharmacy’.

Ramokgopa says the PDU has been tried and tested during its pilot phase which saw 4000 patients withdraw their medicines at the ATM pharmacy. A total of 18 000 medicines were dispensed during its trial.

“We have leveraged the ICT and digitilisation economy to benefit the health of our people. The PDU will assist us to reduce congestion in public healthcare facilities.”

Ramokgopa the PDU is also expected to increase the reach to HIV and Aids patients and to reduce the number of patients who default on chronic medication.

“I hope this [PDU] will assist us in achieving our target of reaching the missing two million patients who should be on anti-retroviral treatment in South Africa. It will also help us with adherence to ART medication.”

The PDU uses world class technology that allows patients to enter their unique PIN code to withdraw medication handpicked by a robotic arm.

Through a two-way Skype-like-audio-visual interaction feature, patients can also receive counselling at the ATM pharmacy which ensures that the safety of patients is not compromised.

In Gauteng, over 400 00 patients receive their medication off-site as part of the department’s strategy to decongest healthcare facilities.

Ramokgopa says the facility will be rolled out to other parts of Gauteng with the next stop being Soweto and Diepsloot.

Twitter: @FaizelPatel143