EKURHULENI has put a plan in place to aid in de-congesting the healthcare system.
On average, 60 per cent of patients visiting primary healthcare facilities across Ekurhuleni are stable patients only there to collect their chronic medication. Ideally these patients should not be queuing for long periods to receive their prescription.
Ekurhuleni has successfully implemented 10 medicine pick-up points at identified clinics for patients on chronic medication. This is part of the city’s programme to de-congest its healthcare facilities and reduce waiting times.
For those residents in and around Alberton, two of the clinics are in Katlehong and Phola Park.
Stable patients are those who have undergone a minimum of six medical reviews and their medical records confirm their adherence to the medication. Once a healthcare practitioner has given the go-ahead for a patient to collect their prescription, a consent form will be signed to be enrolled to collect their two months’ treatment from a pick-up point at an identified health facility.
The operating hours for the pick-up points are from 07:00 to 16:30.
“Patients will no longer have to miss work just to collect their medication as this newly introduced programme accommodates those wishing to collect their medication before heading to work,” says Ekurhuleni spokesperson Themba Gadebe.
“We however encourage stable patients on chronic medication to still visit the health facilities for reviews should they have any other ailments. The municipality is currently in the process of identifying additional sites outside the premises of primary healthcare for patients to conveniently collect their medication closer to their homes,” adds Gadebe.
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