The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– ‘Know your health status’ –
Oscar added that knowing his status was actually a relief.
“My advice is don’t despair. It’s not the end of the world, you can go straight into treatment and still live to 100,” he said.
Ten kilometres (six miles) north, in the sprawling Alexandra township, South African not-for-profit Right ePharmacies last week launched an ATM-style dispenser that removes the need for face-to-face interaction with a pharmacist to collect HIV treatment.
Patients can activate the vending machines — the first in Africa — using a membership card and PIN number which calls up repeat prescriptions pre-loaded by doctors.
Law requires a live pharmacist sign off on the transaction so after a Skype-like video call, the medication is dispensed. It takes less than five minutes.
“It’s much easier and quicker,” said Alexandra resident Philda Dladla, 59, who uses the machines to collect HIV treatment twice a month.
“Before, we used to wait for the whole day at a clinic. It’s easy and anyone can do it — as long as you don’t forget your PIN number!”
The system’s privacy booths also mean patients can avoid publicly revealing their condition — unlike in busy local clinics.
“The only way anyone would know your health status is if you left with the medication showing,” said operations manager Thato Mathabathe beside one of the pharmacy’s four $170,000 (137,000 euro) German-made robotic dispensers.
Roughly 200 patients use the system every day and users have collected 16,000 items, including HIV/AIDS drugs as well as diabetes, epilepsy, asthma and hypertension medication since September.
There are now plans to expand it to three other sites in the Johannesburg region.
