''Think Health, Think Pharmacy...'' for Pharmacy Month 2025

Pharmacy Month takes place throughout September in South Africa and this month aims to raise patient awareness of the vital role pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel play in the community's healthcare.

The theme for 2025 is: ‘’Think Health, Think Pharmacy – One Profession, Many Roles,’’, which highlights the diverse roles of pharmacists and pharmacy personnel in healthcare and promotes better patient-pharmacist communication.

A Digital Health Pharmacist with SKMHealth.co.za and practicing academic pharmacist at the University of Cape Town, Samkele Mkumbuzi, was on Sakhisiziwe – Building The Nation – Bou die Nasie - to increase public awareness about the diverse roles pharmacists play in healthcare, and how Digital Health Pharmacists are transforming the way they approach medicine and patient care.

‘’Pharmacists have always been viewed as the behind-the-counter professionals. However, over the past decade, there has been quite a big, drive and evolution in the profession where pharmacists are not only just focused in patient care. They have also branched into research and academia, looking at different types of solutions into how to improve the health care system. For example, pharmacists are also involved in the legal aspects of providing care, and they provide a law background to that.’’

‘’And then just another tip, in terms of a different type of profession is also looking at pharmacists from being a manager of a health care system and not necessarily facing patients, but working with medical aids and ensuring that people are still getting the quality of care that they deserve. And then the last one - we already know about pharmacists being in the community and providing retail therapy to people - one thing that I have always been fascinated about in the profession is how pharmacists have moved away from just being behind the counter, but actually servicing people where they need to be met,’’ added Mkumbuzi.

PICTURE: Pixabay

He says pharmacists do not just give medication, but try to understand the patient’s health and its history. Mkumbuzi also touched on how technology is transforming pharmacy practice.

‘’Pharmacists have been shown to be the most trusted health care professionals and also the most accessible. When it comes to digital health, historically, in the health care space, a lot of things have been paper based. So with the fourth industrial revolution in bringing in digital tools such as electronic records, websites, that's afforded people who are in remote areas to be able to access pharmacy services and that's, clinical example of that is through tele-pharmacy, which is essentially you calling the pharmacy, having a virtual consultation in the comfort of your own home, and also that being cost effective. So that's just one of the strategies that's been at the forefront. And then, managing patient data is also quite essential. For example, there is SMS systems that help to remind you that you need to collect your medication. There is also drones that have been introduced to actually deliver medication in remote areas.’’

‘’I am from the Eastern Cape, and that is one of the reasons I have always been interested in in digital health because I have seen some communities struggle to access medication, and I think there is such an opportunity now with digital health to give them that opportunity like everyone else,’’ added Mkumbuzi.

On anti-retroviral (ARV) residues found in drinking water, Mkumbuzi reiterated the Department of Water and Sanitation sentiments that it poses no health risk and cannot result in HIV transmission.

‘’Everyone can be exposed to the ARVs that is in drinking water - whether you are living with HIV or not – South Africa has got 7.8 million people living with HIV. People who are not living with HIV should not be alarmed ; you being exposed put to these low levels of ARVs in drink water actually also doesn't have any harm to your system.,’’ said Samkele Mkumbuzi, Digital Health Pharmacist with SKMHealth.co.za and practicing academic pharmacist at the University of Cape Town.

For more on Samkele’s work, visit: skmhealth.co.za, or visit Samkele Mkumbuzi on various social media platforms. Alternatively, message him on WhatsApp on 073 365 7393.

LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW:

Presenter / Producer: Jasnine Roberts