The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness’ Chronic Dispensing Unit (CDU) packs approximately 2 million individual medicine items into an average of 400 000 patient-specific parcels every month.
Through the CDU, an average of R42 million of medication a month is distributed to healthcare facilities and approved alternative collection points across the province.
By allowing clinically stable patients to collect pre-packaged medication quickly and closer to home, the CDU reduces queues and congestion at healthcare facilities. This gives healthcare workers more time to counsel patients, attend to acute cases and care for people who require clinical attention.
Following a visit to the CDU, Premier Alan Winde said the scale of the operation demonstrated how effective systems could improve access to healthcare and protect continuity of treatment.
“The size and scale of this operation are truly impressive, and the CDU plays an important role in buffering our medication stock levels. By maintaining sufficient stock to cover the following six to eight weeks it helps us mitigate the effects of supply disruptions, supports treatment adherence and protects the health of our residents. This is about building a healthcare system that is reliable, accessible and focused on patients,” said Premier Winde.
The scale of the service is also reflected in the 3.26 million CDU encounters recorded during the 2025/26 financial year. This represents significant growth since the CDU began distributing fewer than 1 000 parcels a month in 2005.
More importantly, the service enables better patient care.
The CDU processes and verifies prescriptions before packing medication for individual patients. Parcels are then delivered to healthcare facilities and approved alternative collection points, including community centres, wellness hubs and e-lockers.
Patients receive a collection date, enabling them to collect their medication without waiting in long queues or, at some collection points, entering a healthcare facility at all.
Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Mireille Wenger said the CDU benefits patients and the healthcare professionals caring for them.
“For patients, this service makes collecting chronic medication far more convenient. Instead of spending hours waiting at a clinic, a patient may be able to collect their medicine quickly on the way to work or from a collection point closer to home.
“This also enables better patient care. When stable patients do not need to wait inside a healthcare facility simply to collect medication, clinics are less congested and healthcare workers have more time to counsel patients, attend to acute cases and support those who need clinical care,” said Minister Wenger.
Approximately 6% of parcels delivered to healthcare facilities are not collected. Patients receive SMS reminders ahead of their collection dates and are encouraged to keep their cellphone numbers up to date at their local facilities.
“By bringing chronic medication closer to patients and freeing healthcare professionals to spend more time caring for those who need them, the CDU is helping us build a healthcare system that treats every resident with care and dignity.”
Clinically stable patients who take chronic medication are encouraged to ask the healthcare team at their local facility whether they are eligible to receive their medicine through the CDU.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Government: Office of the Premier.
