Municipality aims to decongest health facilities

The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) aims to cut down on the time patients on chronic medication have to spend queuing for their drugs.

File photo.

According to EMM spokesperson Themba Gadebe, on average, 60 per cent of patients visiting primary healthcare facilities across Ekurhuleni are stable patients, there only to collect their chronic medication.

Gadebe said the EMM has set up 10 medicine pick-up points at identified clinics for patients on chronic medication.

This is part of the municipality’s plan to decongest its health facilities and reduce waiting times.

Stable patients are those who have undergone a minimum of six medical reviews and whose medical records confirm their adherence to the medication.

According to the EMM, once a health practitioner has given the go-ahead for a patient to collect their prescription, a consent form will be signed, for them to be enrolled to collect their two months’ treatment from a pick-up at an identified health facility.

The operating hours for the pick-up points will be from 7am to 4.30pm.

“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,” said Gadebe.

“We do, 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.

The list of the identified medicine pick-up sites is:

•Daveyton Main: Stand 9307, Empilisweni Street, Daveyton.

•Mary Moodley: 732 Khan Crescent, Actonville, Benoni.

•Phola Park: 10054 Mzimkulu and Letutula streets, Phola Park.

•Daveyton East: Stand No 869, Chris Hani Drive, Extension Nine, Daveyton East.

•Daveyton Extension: 14108 Tom Boya Street, Daveyton.

•Motsamai: 260 Motsamai Section, Katlehong.

•Tamaho: 94 Mandela Informal Settlement, Katlehong.

•Katlehong North: 2098 Kgotso Street, Katlehong.

•Erin: 676 Tlama Tlama Section, Tembisa.

•Tembisa Health Care Centre: Emkantini Section, corner of Andrew Mapheto and George Nyanga drives, Tembisa.