11 Jul 2013

The Ministry of Health has decided to avail specialist drugs refill at 10 clinics in the greater Gaborone area. This would be an effort to reduce congestion at Princess Marina Hospital (PMH) pharmacy.

Patients receiving specialist care had been seeing the doctors and collecting their medicines every month at referral hospitals such as Marina, Nyangabgwe and other hospitals where specialists were available.

Dispensation of the drugs would be done at clinics such as Extension 2, Old Naledi, Gaborone West, Julia Molefhe, Broadhurst 3, Broadhurst 2, Lesirane, Bontleng, Nkoyaphiri and Mafitlhakgosi.

Addressing members of the media on July 9, deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Molelekwa noted that the types of medicines that would be availed included drugs for cardio-vascular conditions such as high blood pressure, heart diseases and high cholesterol and other chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus and mental disorders, among others.

He, however, said the move was a pilot project and had already taken hypertensive drugs to the said 10 clinics. Furthermore, Dr Molelekwa said following the pilot project, if everything goes well, they would take the model to Francistown.

“We believe that if well implemented, this will address customer dissatisfaction at our health facilities,” said Dr Molelekwa. He also said the move would reduce the amount of waiting time as well as improve service at the PMH.

Meanwhile, on the day of consultation, the patient would be given one month supply of medications at MPH pharmacy, and Marina would then liaise with the pharmacy department in Gaborone DHMT and Central Medical Stores to ensure that the drugs that the patient needed were availed at the selected clinics for subsequent refills.

Dispensing of refills for specialist prescriptions would be done by pharmacy or nursing personnel at the said clinics while patients collecting specialist drugs from the clinics would still see the specialist at Marina as per doctor’s booking. ENDS