City Health has announced that three of its primary healthcare pharmacies – Ocean View CDC, Pelican Park CDC and Albow Gardens CDC – have been awarded Grade-A classification by the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC). The announcement coincides with World Pharmacists Day, underscoring the vital role of pharmacists in public health.
A Grade-A rating is the highest level of recognition a pharmacy can achieve. It indicates full compliance with Good Pharmacy Practice standards across areas such as medicine availability, service delivery, infrastructure and regulatory compliance, with only minor shortcomings noted during inspection.
Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Councillor Francine Higham, said the milestone reflects City Health’s commitment to quality care. “This recognition shows our dedication to delivering safe, reliable and high-quality pharmaceutical services while strengthening public trust in our primary healthcare system. A Grade-A classification is more than just a rating – it is a vote of confidence in the service our communities can expect,” she said.
The three newly accredited facilities distinguished themselves by offering reliable access to medicines through digitised stock management, modern and secure facilities with private and semi-private counselling areas, patient-centred workflows to cut waiting times and well-trained staff providing respectful and informative care. They join Ikhwezi Clinic in Strand and St Vincent in Belhar, which have already achieved the same rating.
City Health implemented several improvements to reach this standard, including upgraded infrastructure to meet safety and environmental benchmarks, digital dispensing systems to reduce errors and improve turnaround times, ongoing staff training and professional development, and stronger monitoring systems to track performance and quality indicators.
Patients are already seeing the benefits in better access to essential medicines with fewer stock-outs, shorter queues, improved patient counselling and stronger support for treatment adherence, which together enhance confidence in local public healthcare services.
Councillor Higham said the announcement comes at an especially fitting time. “Pharmacy is a vital link in the healthcare chain. By recognising this profession, we honour the people who safeguard treatment outcomes, ensure medication safety and uphold quality care every single day,” she said.
