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Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 16-03-2018<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \n 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).<\/p>\n The Health Department, in partnership with non-profit organisation Right to Care and Right ePharmacy, launched the PDU in Alexandra, Johannesburg on Thursday.<\/p>\n 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 \u2018ATM pharmacy\u2019.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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.\u201d<\/p>\n The PDU uses world class technology that allows patients to enter their unique PIN code to withdraw medication handpicked by a robotic arm.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n In Gauteng, over 400 00 patients receive their medication off-site as part of the department\u2019s strategy to decongest healthcare facilities.<\/p>\n Ramokgopa says the facility will be rolled out to other parts of Gauteng with the next stop being Soweto and Diepsloot.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n