Factors contributing to attrition from a medication dispensing programme in the North West province amongst people living with HIV

Abstract

There is a huge number of people who require access to treatment for HIV and other chronic conditions. Such demand leads to overburdened health care providers and congested health facilities. This poses numerous challenges in the quality of care provided. South Africa has offered a programme known as Centralised Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) that works hand in hand with the Health Programmes Trust on behalf of the National Department of Health. This programme gives access to stable HIV clients to receive treatment outside of the clinic at pick up points with shorter queues in an area of convenience. The lack of awareness around the attrition rate issue and the contributing factors to the programme is worrisome. However, the programme remains misunderstood and unfamiliar to patients and health care providers.