PRESCRIPTIONS
M-KEM'S NEW 'WOW' DISPENSARY – A note from Mr. M
After many months & hours of planning and then building, M-KEM’s new dispensary is in operation. I vowed never to renovate ever again, customer satisfaction necessitated this 'one last change' – a change my staff and I are very proud of.
Besides its aesthetic appeal, the design has resulted in time saving, greater comfort and less hassle for the M-KEM consumer. The divisions between the computers will ensure consumer privacy and the layout should solve the problem of long queues of people – either waiting to hand in their prescriptions, collecting their prepared medicine or just collecting one or two items from the shelf.
A kiddies play area has been allocated in an endeavor to occupy these valuable customers. Parents would be able to watch them through a glass partition. Comfortable seating for adults is provided as will a facility to enable them to browse until called.
In addition to the above, other mod cons and innovations including M-KEM's new ACCESS Card, will hopefully result in a different attitude to purchasing prescription and other medicine.
With all the planning and preparation we realize that nothing is perfect and constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated. We look forward to welcoming you to M-KEM’s Dispensary and naturally to the rest of M-KEM including our 1st floor BOUNCE department.
Sincerely Hylton Mallach (Mr. M)
M - K E M i s f o r e v e r y o n e !
P.S. Remember that M-KEM is always open for your convenience - ALL day, everyday and ALL night every night.
M-KEM's Dispensary is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A Pharmacist and support staff is always physically on duty. For this reason, this Health, Sport & Beauty Centre is known nationally. Customers come from far and wide to benefit from this unique service. Telephone calls are fielded on an after-hours basis from as far as London and other international cities and countries.
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PRICING STRUCTURE
Since originally proposed by the Department Of Health, M-KEM has implemented a pricing structure of 26 / 26. This allows a maximum mark up of 26% on Prescription and Schedule Medicine capped at R26.00 excluding VAT (R29.64 inclusive).
Therefore even an item that costs M-KEM R3,000.00 will result in a price of R3,029.64 to the consumer, provided that it is paid for in cash or by a medical aid and that the product is collected at the Dispensary.
M-KEM's special prices are applicable as long as paid for in cash, whether on a prescription or not.
M-KEM's 24 Hour Pharmacy has a consistent pricing policy and prefers to offer a consistent, affordable price as opposed to limited special offers. In certain instances an exception would be made in particular categories whereby the consumer would benefit from an extra special low price.
MEDICAL AIDS
M-KEM has joined a group of large independent pharmacies operating nationally in order to obtain chronic medical aid contracts which thus far have not been available to individual pharmacies.
If you are a member of the following medical aids, you may now obtain your chronic medicines at M-KEM.
- Discovery
- Tramsmed
- Bankmed
- Medihelp
- Prosano
- Ned Group
- Hosmed
- Liberty
- Fedhealth
- Motor Health
- Momemtum
- Bonitas
- Metropolitan
Should your medical aid not appear on the following list please be rest assured that negotiations are taking place on a continual basis. We would like to remind our clients that our tariff (26/26) remains unchanged as opposed to the recently government gazetted tariff increase.
Although certain medical aid contracts are not available to M-KEM at this stage. Members are not precluded from purchasing their medicines from M-KEM with the obvious advantages and claiming from their medical aids. A complete list of medical aids to which M-KEM is contracted is available on M-KEM's website or you can contact M-KEM's Dispensary for more details.
Many medical aid members are unaware of the fact that they may purchase a range of medicines / appliances from the pharmacy and pay either no co-payment or a levy - depending on their medical aids rules and regulations, which vary.
Please be reminded that generic alternatives are available for the majority of prescribed items and you are advised to discuss the pricing advantages when obtaining your medication.
RANGE OF PRODUCTS
M-KEM's 24 Hour Pharmacy carries a vast range of products particularly with respect to prescription and other medicines. It would be a very unusual occurrence if a complete prescription could not be filled at the time of dispensing.
GENERIC MEDICINES
Generic alternatives are available for a wide range of prescribed items. The Pharmacist will always make it clear that generics are available whilst leaving the client the room to decide which he would prefer. The prescriber and / or client has the room to decide which is preferable.
M-KEM's 24 Hour Pharmacists will advise on:
- Whether the substitution is desirable from an efficacy point of view,
- Which Generic Alternative Product of the wide range available is the most advantageous, bearing in mind that although price is of prime importance the reason for taking the medicine must result in recovery / good health.
No decision will be taken without the Prescriber's consent (provided the Doctor is available for consultation).
DISPENSARY STAFF
M-KEM's 24 Hour Pharmacy prides itself on its calibre of staff. A careful selection process is undergone prior to appointment. The part played by Pharmacists should never be underestimated.
M-KEM's Pharmacists' principal duty is to ensure that patients receive the correct medication and are clear as to the manner in which it is to be used. In order to allow Pharmacists to carry out the function which they are qualified / trained to perform, Pharmacist Assistants perform the supporting role in the Dispensary. They too have a recognised two-year qualification and are permitted by law to carry out these functions although all their work is monitored by the Pharmacists.
MEDICINE OVER-USAGE
M-KEM's 24 Hour Pharmacy has a policy of adhering to the law and of providing what its professional staff in its estimation considers necessary for the health and welfare of the consumer.
Very often Pharmacists are requested to dispense certain items such as anti-biotics without prescriptions or to repeat prescriptions for previously supplied items. Many items are addictive and these include certain cough mixtures, cold and sinus preparations and slimming preparations. The former, taken correctly, are safe.
However, the sedative and certain other properties in these medicines have led to abuse and it is M-KEM's duty to prevent abuse / over-usage. By the same token the control of hypertension, diabetes, depression, anxiety and a host of other ailments must be undertaken by the medical profession and not by the user. It is M-KEM's policy to refuse to supply any medication or product used for addictive purposes.
REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS
Customers who have repeat prescriptions can now make use of M-Kem's fax, phone or e-mail service to send through the prescriptions which they can then collect at their later convenience.
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