Poor response to PVAS, queues persist
SIBU: Public acceptance to Pharmacy Value-Added Service (PVAS) is not very encouraging despite the continuous promotions, thus the persistent problem of long queues and long waiting time at Oya Road Polyclinic here.
According to state Health Department director Dr Jamilah Hashim, the pharmacy at Oya Road Polyclinic received a total of 122,785 prescriptions in the first nine months of this year or 13,643 prescriptions per month, or 650 prescriptions per day.
“The number of monthly prescriptions received this year has increased by 24 per cent from the same period last year.
“Patients requiring pharmacy services at Oya Road Polyclinic are a mixture new cases and follow-up patients on appointment, patients collecting their monthly partial supply medicines, and walk-in patients without appointment.
“The large amount of medications that has to be dispensed by the pharmacy has a direct impact on patients’ waiting time, length of queue and convenience,” she told thesundaypost in reply to a question on the long queue to collect medicine at the Oya Road Polyclinic here.
To address the issue, the pharmacy has introduced Pharmacy Value-Added Service (PVAS) to improve speed, ease, and flexibility of follow-up medication collection by patients or their proxy, Dr Jamilah said.
The three types of PVAS are Part Supply Medicine Collection Centres (PPUSS), Medicine by Post 1Malaysia (UMP 1Malaysia), and Part Supply Medicines Collection by Appointment.
Information and awareness on such services have been carried out through radio talk, pamphlets, brochures and posters at the pharmacy.
“Despite the continuous promotions, its acceptance by the public has not been very encouraging, thus the persistent problem of long queues and waiting time,” Dr Jamilahsaid.
PPUSS gives patients an option to collect their medication from the nearest clinics at their own convenience.
There are four PPUSS in Sibu, namely at KK (Klinik Kesihatan) UTC Sibu, K1M (1Malaysia Clinic) Rejang, K1M Bandong, and K1M Farley.
UMP1M is also aimed at providing convenience to patients, especially those who have difficulties travelling to the clinic or hospital.
Only patients who fulfil certain criteria are eligible to opt for postal delivery to ensure efficacy and quality of the medicines are not compromised.
PVAS, a Part Supply Medicines Collection by Appointment, is another option given to patients who prefer to get their partial supply of follow-up medicines from Oya Road Polyclinic.
Medicines will be prepared prior to the collection date given and patients do not have to wait to collect them, she added.
A Survey on Patient’s Preference on Part Supply Medicines Collection at Oya Road Polyclinic conducted in October 2017 show sthat 45 per cent of the respondents expressed their willingness to collect their medicines at other facilities through PPUSS service.
However, only 10 per cent of patients at Oya Road Polyclinic are currently using this service,” Dr Jamilah said.
Also, about five per cent of PVAS registered patients failed to collect their medicine at PPUSS as agreed. Instead they continue to come back to Oya Road Polyclinic to collect their medication, she added.