by Roma Ramphal – Provincial Differentiated Care
1 August 2025 was a truly exciting and meaningful day as I joined my HST colleagues: Lethukuthula Shabalala (Sub-District Co-ordinator: South), Shahzadhee Yakoob (Roving Pharmacist: South), and Ayanda Zungu (Clinical Advisor) in supporting the Cato Manor Community Health Centre (CHC) launch of six-month multi-month dispensing (6MMD) for patients who are clinically stable on medicine for chronic conditions.
It was an honour to be part of this milestone moment that marks a bold step forward in enhancing patient care in eThekwini and KwaZulu-Natal.
I had the opportunity to present to the prescribing team, taking them through the benefits of 6MMD not only for patients, but also for the facility itself. I highlighted that 6MMD is more than a dispensing model; it is another opportunity to give patients choices that empower them to select a care model that works best for their lives.
We discussed patient eligibility in detail, with an important emphasis on assessing the social factors of patients' circumstances, not merely their clinical stability. I reminded the team that before transitioning a patient to 6MMD, we must consider issues such as sex-based violence, substance use and social support, all of which can have a negative impact on treatment adherence. Every patient deserves to be assessed holistically and offered a model of care that truly supports their context.
We also spoke about the clinician's obligations and the importance of obtaining the patient's commitment to their treatment journey, ensuring that they understand their role in taking their medicines daily, storing them safely, and returning for their viral load testing on time.
Ayanda Zungu took the team through the eligibility lists, the benefits of file-flagging, and reporting on the TIER.Net system as we prepare to initiate patients.
The day was made even more special through the support and enthusiasm of the facility team. Sister Malinga, the Acting Operations Manager at Cato Manor CHC, captured the spirit of the day beautifully. She said: "6MMD will assist patients and benefit them as another option to collect their meds. This will also to help the facility to decongest even more. Previously, for registration on the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme, patients needed an ID or passport. Now, we can offer 6MMD to eligible patients who don't have a unique identifier. Nurses will have more time to focus on unstable patients, which is exactly what we need."
In a symbolic and empowering moment, Acting Operational Manager of Cato Manor CHC, Sister Malinga, holds a 6MMD medicine supply.
This launch marks a revolutionary moment in Primary Health Care service delivery in KwaZulu-Natal, and is a reminder of what's possible when we come together with purpose to put patients first and ensure that the systems we design truly serve the communities that we support.