Netcare in-hospital pharmacies suspend retail services to the public
Drickus Maartens • March 30, 2020
Pharmacies will continue to serve needs of patients in hospital
The in-hospital pharmacies at Netcare hospitals have suspended services to the general public as from today, 30 March 2020 until further notice, as part of the hospitals’ efforts to reduce risks of COVID-19 transmission.
“This measure will serve to reduce the traffic in our hospitals, and will assist in reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to healthcare workers and those in our care. Critical in-hospital pharmacy services will be prioritised during this pandemic period,” says Jacques du Plessis, managing director of Netcare’s hospital division.
Alternative arrangements have been made to ensure that members of the public who receive chronic medication at Netcare pharmacies will not be compromised during this period.
Individuals who have a chronic or monthly medicine prescription with Netcare in-hospital pharmacies should contact the pharmacy to arrange collection of their pre-packaged medication at a designated collection point in the screening area outside the hospital. Alternatively, the pharmacists can contact a retail pharmacy of the individual’s choice to assist with making arrangements for the collection of prescriptions.
Du Plessis explained that pharmaceutical services to those in hospital will continue as normal.
“Our pharmacies will continue to provide full pharmaceutical service to those in our care in our hospitals, as well as to issue ‘to-take-out’ [TTO] medicine for individuals who are discharged from hospital and to fill prescriptions for persons seen at the emergency departments. The in-hospital pharmacies will also dispense medicine to staff and doctors on duty at the hospitals.”
“We trust that the public will appreciate that we have made this decision in the best interests of all concerned, and we are grateful for their understanding as we all stand together to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” Du Plessis concludes.
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