Cape Town - First it was contraceptives and then childhood vaccines that state patients could have at a fraction of the price at private pharmacies.
Now patients will get health screenings free – thanks to an agreement between provincial health authorities and community pharmacies.
On Tuesday, Health MEC Theuns Botha launched the wellness centres project, which would see pharmacies providing routine screening such as high blood pressure tests, blood sugar and HIV testing among other services.
Botha said the initiative would see pharmacies giving at least 10 percent of their time for free health screenings.
Launched at Mitchells Plain Hospital in the Western Cape, the new project would be based on the model where selected pharmacies provided services such as family planning to state patients.
The provincial Department of Health would provide HIV kits to chemists such as Dis-Chem, Clicks pharmacies in Gugulethu and Mitchells Plain, and Metropolitan Health centres in Cape Town.
Botha said the initiative would not only decrease patient waiting times, but that it would also help decongest public health facilities.
“For public health managers it means that we are able to focus on the core of our work... as well as the delivery of services. - Cape Argus