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Making quality healthcare more accessible
For millions of South Africans living in peri-urban and rural communities, accessing quality primary healthcare is far more difficult than it should be. Public facilities are overstretched and under-resourced, waiting times are long, and the practical cost of a single clinic visit - including transport and lost income due to time away from work - often put people off seeking the medical help they need. The result is a healthcare access gap that hits hardest for those who can least afford it.
The Sha'p Left initiative, developed by the Cipla Foundation, was designed to close that gap. A nurse-driven, community-based primary healthcare service, Sha'p Left places Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)-compliant containerised surgeries in the heart of communities making it possible for people to consult a qualified clinical nurse practitioner without having to travel long distances or lose a day's wages. Each surgery holds a dispensing licence for up to Schedule 4 medicines, meaning patients not only receive professional medical attention; they also leave with the medication they need to help them get better.
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