Right ePharmacy has set up an ATM pharmacy, which allows people to collect their chronic medication in three minutes with little to no contact with other people. Situated in Johannesburg and Bloemfontein, these ATMs help patients who rely on the public healthcare system to avoid their local clinic during the Coronavirus pandemic.
Fanie Hendriksz, managing director of Right ePharmacy, says: “We strongly urge patients to use the ATM pharmacies so that they don’t have to spend a long time in the queue at hospital or clinic pharmacies. It has become more urgent than ever that we transfer patients to these fast and advanced ATM pharmacies.
“We have seen a steep increase in patient numbers at our ATM pharmacies over the last couple of weeks and we have geared up for the increase. We’ve stepped up our hygiene practices with sanitiser available and ask patients to observe a one-metre social distance,” he adds.
How to sign up
Anyone who uses prescribed chronic medication can benefit from these ATMs. On your next visit to your usual clinic, ask a nurse to confirm whether you are eligible. Complete a consent form. You will be given a two months’ supply of medication and the date for your next collection at an ATM pharmacy.
How to use the ATM
On the given date, go to the ATM pharmacy helpdesk with your ID or passport and clinic appointment card where you will be helped. Medicine is dispensed in a simple five-step process:
- The patient scans their barcode ID book, card or pharmacy card and enters a PIN;
- The patient talks to a remote pharmacist (similar to a Skype call);
- The medication is selected;
- The medicine is robotically dispensed, labelled and drops in the collection slot;
- Patient takes the receipt which indicates next collection date.
Reminder SMSs are sent to patients who don’t collect their medicine to ensure adherence.
Locations and times
These advanced pharmacies are located in:
Soweto: Baragwanath Mall in Diepsloot and Ndofaya Mall in Meadowlands
Diepsloot: Bambanani Mall
Alexandra: Alex Plaza and
Bloemfontein: Twin City Mall in Mangaung (Free-State)
They are open from Monday to Friday from 7h00 to 18h00 and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9h00 to 14h00. The contact centre number is 0801 112 228.
