Africa’s first ATM pharmacy launched at Alex Plaza

Africa’s first ground-breaking ATM pharmacy launched recently at Alex Plaza will change medical dispensing forever.

This according to Gauteng MEC for Health, Dr Gwen Ramokhopa when unveiling the ePharmacy dispensing units in partnership with MMC for Health Dr Mpho Phalatse, Joburg City Council, United States of America and German government diplomats Jessica Lapenn and Klaus Streicher.

Ramopkgopa said the Pharmacy Dispensing Units (PDUs) include robots to dispense the medicines through ATM slots like in banks and remote-based pharmacists providing advisory services in all 11 languages. “Things won’t remain the same. The inspiring innovation is needed country-, region- and continent-wide,” she said, adding that hundreds of medicines were dispensed in a record time of three minutes, maximum, against prescriptions presented by selected patients receiving chronic treatment during the launch.

Operators of the innovation, Right ePharmacy under international NPO Right to Care which is sponsored by the USA, lauded the initiative saying will reduce congestion at public healthcare facilities and still retain interaction with patients by Skype-like audio-visual interaction while robots dispense the medicines.

Professor Ian Sanne of the NPO said, “Our intergovernmental partnerships with agencies like USAID and Germany’s GIZ, developed the units to ensure accurate dispensing and quick collection of medicines from the ATMs by clinically stable patients. “The sophisticated technology will attend to patients’ concerns and information needs through a one-on-one link with tele-pharmacists.” He said other sites will be in Diepsloot and two more in Soweto.

Lapenn said the technology was innovative in overcoming the challenges encountered when trying to ensure people adhered to HIV and other chronic treatments. “The PDUs are a unique technological solution beyond traditional healthcare delivery means and a wonderful example of commitment to a partnership with South Africa to create a safer, healthier, and brighter future for its citizens.”

Streicher added, “Improving access to medication is key.” He said the PDUs will significantly improve people’s ability to deal with illnesses through the multi-stakeholder partnership of government, international donors and the private sector.

Rufaro Ngulube of the NPO Right to Care (is this correct?) said the initiative will help with limited public health facilities. “After patients’ verified details are uploaded, they will receive a two-month supply of medicines to also relieve them from frequenting the machines. The remote-located pharmacists, acting like clinic nurses, will advise patients in various languages,” Ngulube said. She added that the robots picked up the medicines in four seconds after the order is placed.

The PDUs will be installed only in areas historically isolated from mainstream pharmacies and will be open from 6am to 6pm during the week, and 8am to 2pm on weekends.

The five simple dispensing steps are:

• Patient scans barcoded-ID book, card or pharmacy card and enters a PIN number
• Patient talks to a remote pharmacist
• Prescription or items are selected
• The medicine is robotically dispensed, labelled and dropped in the collection slot
• Patient takes receipt indicating next collection date.

Details: Michelle Blumenau 083 273 9891 michelle@turquiosepr.org.za.