Transitional Challenges in the Provision of CDU Service

The Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) services is in the process of being taken over by a new service provider, UTI. The Western Cape Government Health would like to inform chronic patients who receive the CDU parcels at public health facilities of this development. However, it has resulted in challenges at certain facilities especially in the Metropole District.

Due to the logistical arrangements which need to be addressed, certain facilities could experience a delay in delivery of CDU parcels and increased waiting times by patients at specific facilities within the Metropole. The Department sincerely apologises for the inconvenience and have met with the service provider to address these issues.

Patients are requested to collect their medication from 13:00 on the scheduled day of their indicated collection date so as to prevent unnecessary waiting times. This arrangement will be applicable for the next two weeks until the deliveries from the new service provider have stabilised sufficiently.

Arrangements have been made with facilities to accommodate patients for this arrangement and provision can be made for patients who need to make alternative arrangements to collect their chronic medication.

We are confident that the conversion to the new and improved service will significantly improve our service delivery to you. These challenges will not affect the remainder of the province when the service is rolled out later this year as UTI will have its capacity and systems in place by then. The service is expected to resume to normality within the next few weeks.

Despite their work pressures, pharmacy staff continue to assist and cooperate to have all issues resolved in order to render a quality health service to the people of the Western Cape. We request that when patients collect their CDU parcels, they be understanding towards the current situation and with their support we can make health care in the province better together.