The City of Cape Town is celebrating September as a month dedicated to recognising the vital role of pharmacists in the health value chain.
City Health currently employs 37 pharmacists and 77 post-basic pharmacist assistants. Over the past 12 months, this dedicated team has dispensed medication worth more than R230 million from more than 70 dispensaries across the city.
In addition to ensuring access to essential medicines, the City’s Pharmaceutical Service has successfully rolled out the Elula Pharmacy System (Rx), a digital platform that streamlines medicine dispensing and stock management. The system gives staff real-time access to data and the latest medicine reference materials, helping to reduce waiting times for patients and improve workflow efficiency.
“City Health is slowly working its way towards greater digitisation of its systems, for improved patient outcomes. In the last year, we’ve seen the piloting of an appointment system, and now our pharmacies too are on the digital track. Over time, and as these systems are fine-tuned, we expect to see even greater efficiency in the service,” said Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Councillor Francine Higham.
Despite these advancements, the City notes that medication adherence remains a challenge, particularly for those on long-term treatment or living with communicable diseases such as tuberculosis. “We recognise that many of our clients are investing in their health by taking guidance from our medical professionals, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Those who are not following their regimen put themselves at risk, but in the case of communicable diseases like TB, they are also putting others around them at risk,” Councillor Higham added.
To help address this, City Health is driving Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) initiatives, which promote the responsible use of antibiotics, antivirals and antifungals to combat antimicrobial resistance. This global health concern arises when bacteria, viruses and fungi adapt to medicines, making treatments less effective.
The City has appealed to the public to support these efforts by:
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Taking antimicrobials only when prescribed by a healthcare professional
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Completing the full course of treatment
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Following prescriptions for chronic medication carefully
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Avoiding mixing medicines with alcohol or drugs
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Returning unused or expired medication to the nearest pharmacy for safe disposal
With ongoing investments in technology and community outreach, the City of Cape Town is determined to improve healthcare access, reduce waiting times, and empower residents to take an active role in their health and the wellbeing of their communities.
