You can now collect chronic meds at the Post Office
South African residents will now be able to collect their chronic medication at a local Post Office, but some pharmacists are worried!
Listen to the discussion here:
Patients will now be able to collect their chronic medication from Post Office branches across South Africa.
According to a report by the South African government, "this collection service is available in all provinces, except the Western Cape, at 342 post offices."
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"The service is aimed at patients who live or work closer to one of these post offices than a government clinic."
The Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa has, however, raised concerns over this, saying they are unsure of the Post Office's ability to comply with regulations to keep medicines safe and secure.
South Africa's Medicines and Related Substances Act sets clear rules around the regulation of distributing medication. The Post Office will have to ensure they comply will all these regulations to uphold the new initiative.
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The Post Office confirmed that queues at its outlets have vastly reduced since the collection points for SRD grants were moved to supermarkets. Medication can now be collected "very quickly and stress-free".
"Patients of government clinics who would like to collect their medication from their local post office should arrange it with their clinic. The Department of Health sends the patient an SMS when the medication is ready for collection and patients have 14 days to collect it before the medication is returned to the Department of Health."
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