The Mpumalanga MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, the HoD, Dr Lucas Ndhlovu, and a Mpumalanga delegation travelled to Munich for the 2024 Aids Conference session, which took place from July 22 to 26.
On the Wednesday, July 24, Mpumalanga was showcased to the world. Dr Chuka Onaga of Right to Care Mpumalanga presented data from the Ehlanzeni District and exhibited the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme.
It provides an alternative mechanism to facilitate access to medicine for stable chronic patients in our public health sector by making it easier for our clients or patients to collect their medication on time.
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The CCMDD programme adopts task-shifting approach by taking the responsibility of a high volume of patients out of the hands of the public health facility staff, and placing it into the hands of the external service provider (Pharmacy Direct), which dispenses and distributes medicines to make more efficient use of the workforce team in our facilities.
“On the system, the data compares the different types of medicines collection points, which is called the external pickup points. The clients collect the medications from the Collect & Go smart lockers (known by communities as Medicine ATM lockers) installed by Right to Care in 11 health facilities in Ehlanzeni District.
This is done to conveniently assist our clients or patients to collect their medications on time, followed by those who rely on private pharmacists and lastly, those who still collect their medicines in our public facilities.
“This is scientific proof of what we have been working towards: that if we make service delivery more convenient for our clients and reduce waiting times, we will have better outcomes for our clients, thus improve the provision of healthcare services for our people,” said Onaga.
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“I call upon all our facilities to identify clients who qualify to be registered on the CCMDD to urgently do so, and where the smart lockers exist, our clients must be given that as external pickup point option.
Our patients can only register on CCMDD if they meet the qualifying criteria. Ask your healthcare worker about CCMDD during your next clinic appointment. If one qualifies, the healthcare worker will assist to register our clients or patients on the CCMDD programme.”
Mpumalanga News
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