Leveraging private sector pick-up points to strengthen public chronic medicine delivery in South Africa: Lessons from the central chronic medicines dispensing and distribution programme
1
National Department of Health, Pretoria, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1506
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Public health systems in low- and middle-income countries face increasing pressure from rising chronic disease burdens and constrained facility capacity. South Africa’s Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme incorporates private-sector pick-up points (PuPs) as a strategic mechanism to expand access to medicines while preserving public sector resources. This model represents one of the largest public-private health partnerships in the country.
METHODS:
We conducted a descriptive analysis of national programme data from Quarter 3 2025/26, focusing specifically on the contracting and utilization of private-sector pick-up points. The review included an assessment of patient distribution across delivery channels, adherence to standardized service level agreements, and regulatory compliance records. Operational performance indicators were analyzed to evaluate the scale, geographic coverage, and integration of private partners into the public service delivery network.
RESULTS:
By Quarter 3 2025/26, over 3.7 million patients were actively enrolled, with approximately 61% collecting medicines from external pick-up points, the vast majority of which are situated in the private sector. These partner facilities operate under nationally standardized contracts and Good Pharmacy Practice requirements, ensuring consistent quality of care across diverse provinces. This engagement has successfully expanded geographic reach into retail and community pharmacy networks, significantly reducing congestion at public facilities. However, the analysis identified challenges in contract management at scale and variable partner uptake in rural versus urban districts.
CONCLUSIONS:
The programme demonstrates that structured private-sector engagement can play a critical role in strengthening public health service delivery without privatizing the cost to the patient. Embedding private pick-up points within a regulated, nationally coordinated model offers a scalable and replicable approach for improving chronic medicine access while maintaining public-sector oversight. These findings provide valuable governance lessons for countries seeking to leverage private capacity to support universal health coverage goals.
Public health systems in low- and middle-income countries face increasing pressure from rising chronic disease burdens and constrained facility capacity. South Africa’s Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme incorporates private-sector pick-up points (PuPs) as a strategic mechanism to expand access to medicines while preserving public sector resources. This model represents one of the largest public-private health partnerships in the country.
METHODS:
We conducted a descriptive analysis of national programme data from Quarter 3 2025/26, focusing specifically on the contracting and utilization of private-sector pick-up points. The review included an assessment of patient distribution across delivery channels, adherence to standardized service level agreements, and regulatory compliance records. Operational performance indicators were analyzed to evaluate the scale, geographic coverage, and integration of private partners into the public service delivery network.
RESULTS:
By Quarter 3 2025/26, over 3.7 million patients were actively enrolled, with approximately 61% collecting medicines from external pick-up points, the vast majority of which are situated in the private sector. These partner facilities operate under nationally standardized contracts and Good Pharmacy Practice requirements, ensuring consistent quality of care across diverse provinces. This engagement has successfully expanded geographic reach into retail and community pharmacy networks, significantly reducing congestion at public facilities. However, the analysis identified challenges in contract management at scale and variable partner uptake in rural versus urban districts.
CONCLUSIONS:
The programme demonstrates that structured private-sector engagement can play a critical role in strengthening public health service delivery without privatizing the cost to the patient. Embedding private pick-up points within a regulated, nationally coordinated model offers a scalable and replicable approach for improving chronic medicine access while maintaining public-sector oversight. These findings provide valuable governance lessons for countries seeking to leverage private capacity to support universal health coverage goals.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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