Synchronised National Communication in Health – SyNCH

The current Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme (CCMDD) is paper-based, and therefore subject to process inefficiencies. SyNCH automates the CCMDD process from prescription transmission to CCMDD pharmacy service providers (dispensing and distribution), to collection of patient medicine parcels at external pick-up points. It also prevents the duplication of patient registration by the entry of a unique identification number (South African Identification Number, Passport Number or Asylum Seeker Number). SyNCH ensures transparency between stakeholders.

The main goal of the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) program is to improve access to chronic medicines for public health sector patients. Since the inception of CCMDD in 2014, there has been a marked increase in the number of patients accessing medicines through this programme since to the introduction of Universal Test and Treat for people living with HIV and AIDS in South Africa. The CCMDD program has been paper-based and therefore subject to process inefficiencies. In addition, the program lacked transparency.
The Synchronised National Communication in Heath (SyNCH) system was developed to rectify these issues and introduce a standardized, automated process in all provinces implementing CCMDD. The SyNCH system allows for online patient registration, selection of approved Pick-up Points (PuPs), electronic submission of prescriptions to CCMDD service providers’, scanning capability for Patient medicine Parcels (PMPs) issued to patients, and automated reporting at various levels within the health system.

SyNCH was developed to be interoperable with other electronic health systems, thereby ensuring that duplication of system functionality does not occur, whilst leveraging off available information.