Anglo American will be expanding its innovative pharmaceutical smart locker programme across its mining communities. The Collect&Go trademarked smart lockers enhance medication access and adherence for thousands of community members managing chronic conditions.
The renewed emphasis on these smart lockers coincided in celebration of World Health Day, observed in April.
The electronic smart lockers are implemented in partnership with Right ePharmacy and the provincial Department of Health in the Northern Cape and Limpopo.
It provides convenient 24/7 access to chronic medications, allowing patients to collect their prescriptions without waiting in clinic queues, and outside of normal operating hours.
This is particularly valuable for contractors whose shift patterns make it difficult to visit clinics during standard hours.
It follows a successful pilot programme in Limpopo where eight lockers were installed in several districts.
A 93% successful collection rate was noted, supporting adherence and privacy for 5 700 patients on chronic medication.
An additional four smart lockers will be installed, of which two in the Northern Cape, supporting Kumba Iron Ore mining communities.
“By providing accessible medication pick-up points, we are strengthening local health systems while helping patients to maintain treatment adherence, which is crucial for managing chronic conditions like HIV,” says Dr Alexandra Plowright, Anglo American’s global head of Community Health and Wellbeing.
Each smart locker installation includes a console unit, cooling unit for temperature-sensitive medications, and multiple standard units with electronic locking mechanisms.
The system offers multiple benefits beyond convenience. This include secure package delivery with content privacy, remote monitoring and management capabilities, and automated patient adherence tracking. The temperature-controlled units include integrated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to maintain operation during power outages for up to six hours.
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