FAQSOver 30 conditions are covered on CCMDD, including: arthritis, asthma, cancer, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (CPOD − lung disease), diabetes, epilepsy, heart failure, hypertension (high blood pressure), HIV, kidney disease, clinical depression, migraines, stomach ulcers, and tuberculosis (TB). Medication for contraception is also available. For the full list of chronic conditions covered by CCMDD, click here.
CCMDD is a programme that helps people with chronic conditions who take their medication every day as prescribed by their doctor or healthcare worker. By taking your medication everyday as prescribed, your blood test results will fall within the normal range. This ‘normal’ is different for different conditions.
- The normal range for blood pressure is: more than 90/60 and less than 120/80.
- The normal range for diabetes is: a blood-sugar level of 4mmol/L – 7mmol/L for two consecutive tests. (according to Standard Treatment Guidelines PHC 2018)
- The normal range for HIV is: one undetectable viral load test results in order to be eligible for the CCMDD Programme.
Viral load is the term used to describe the amount of HIV in your blood. The more HIV there is in your blood, the higher your viral load. The higher your viral load, the greater your risk of becoming ill because of HIV. HIV-positive patients should have their viral load tested every year. When your viral load is undetectable, you cannot infect another person and you can live a long, normal and healthy life. Your viral load will become undetectable if you take your ARVs every day.
An HIV-positive patient must have one undetectable viral load test result in order to be eligible for the CCMDD Programme.
CCMDD is a programme that encourages people with chronic conditions to take their medication every day as prescribed. By taking your medication every day as prescribed (often called adhering to your medication) your blood test results with fall within the normal range and your condition will then be stable. Once your condition is stable, you can benefit from the CCMDD service which allows you to collect your medication from a convenient pick-up point like Dis-Chem or Clicks rather than having to visit the clinic every month. Another great benefit is that you can nominate a family member or friend to collect on your behalf.
Yes, anyone with a South African ID document, Asylum Seeker permit or foreign passport can register, provided that you meet the CCMDD registration criteria. Speak to your healthcare worker about registering. Once registered, take one of these identification documents and your CCMDD Collection Card with you when collecting your medication.
Not necessarily − you may qualify for CCMDD if you have been on your medication for six months and your test results are within the normal range. Ask your nurse about CCMDD so you can start benefiting from this convenient collection service.
Take your South African ID document, Asylum Seeker permit or foreign passport as well as your CCMDD Collection Card with you when collecting your medication.
During the COVID-19 pandemic it is very important that you keep your contact details updated in case we need to contact you urgently. As soon as your cellphone number changes, please call the CCMDD Toll-free number: 0801 313 992to update your contact details. You can also inform your nurse about your new contact details at your next clinic appointment, but during this period we recommend that you update your details as soon as possible by calling the Toll-free number.
If you don’t collect your medication on the exact collection date, you have 48 hours to collect your medication. Your medicine parcel will be held at the pick-up point for seven days before being returned to the supplier. If you fail to collect two consecutive medicine parcels that are returned to the supplier, your CCMDD profile will be deactivated. This means you will have to go back to your facility to re-register on the CCMDD Programme, and your eligibility for enrolment will have to be re-established by the clinician. Try your best to comply with your collection dates so that you can avoid such developments – and remember that either of the two people you nominated can collect your medicine parcels on your behalf if you are unable to do so.
If you don’t collect your medication within seven days, your medication will be returned to the supplier. Try to comply with your collection dates to avoid the disappointment of your medicine not being available for you at your pick-up point.
You can change your chosen pick-up point mid-cycle if it is no longer convenient for you. Select a new pick-up point at your next clinic appointment, or call the CCMDD Toll-free Call Centre at 0801 313 992 for guidance.
To change or add someone to the list of people who can collect your medication on your behalf, call the CCMDD Toll-free number: 0801 313 992− or you can nominate someone new at your next clinic appointment.
No need to worry: all medication is packaged in a sealed, brown box at a centralised pharmacy − so nobody (not even the Pharmacist) can see or even feel what is inside the box, giving you complete privacy.
You can easily get a new CCMDD Collection Card at your clinic.
No, you don’t need to join an adherence club to join CCMDD. An adherence club is one option for receiving your medicine through the CCMDD Programme. The other options are external pick-up points and Spaced Fast Lanes at clinics.
If you miss your annual check-up at the clinic, your script won’t be renewed − which means that you won’t be able to collect your medication as usual from your normal pick-up points. Schedule another appointment immediately.
Your records are not transferred. Go to your clinic and ask the nurse for a ‘Transfer-out’ letter. This letter contains important information that the nurse at your new clinic will use to create a Patient File for you. If you are registered on CCMDD, your profile will have to be deactivated by your originating clinic using a Deactivation Form, and you will be re-registered at your new clinic.
You have to return to the clinic for your health condition to be reassessed, so that your clinician can determine whether you are eligible to re-register on the CCMDD Programme. If you are not yet eligible, you will have to maintain a steady state of wellness before you can be re-registered.
There are several simple tricks to remind you to take your medication.
- Set an alarm or reminder on your phone to remind you.
- Have a friend or family member remind you.
- Use a pillbox – by separating your morning and evening dose, you can keep track of when you have taken your medication.
- Link your medication to a daily routine. For example, always take your medication when you brush your teeth or when you have your morning tea.
- Place your medication where you can see it easily.
- Carry extra medication with you in case you need it while out and about.
- Make sure that a child taking chronic medication has two caregivers who know their medical requirements, so that if one caregiver is absent, the child can keep up with their required dosages.
- Join an adherence club, as connecting with other people who share your experiences can help you stick to your schedule.
There are many myths about medication and chronic conditions. A myth is a widely held belief or idea that is FALSE but people think it is true. There are many misleading stories that people tell about chronic conditions – like you won’t get diabetes if there is no diabetes in your family, which is FALSE. Or diabetes medication makes you impotent − FALSE. To get the most reliable information, always ask a health professional who you trust.
CCMDD FAQs
Yes. To reduce the number of people at clinics, certain patients have automatically had their prescriptions extended and do not need to return to the clinic for their review. You can continue to collect your medication at your chosen pick-up point.
To reduce the number of people at clinics, certain patients have automatically had their prescriptions extended so that they do not make unnecessary visits to the clinic. However, you MUST return to the facility for your annual viral load test, irrespective of the script extension period.
COVID-19 FAQs
People with undiagnosed, untreated or poorly managed chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and HIV have been found to be at a higher risk of severe illness and mortality associated with COVID-19.
Yes. Continue taking your chronic medication even if you develop COVID-19 symptoms. It is more important than ever to adhere to your medication, as this will ensure that your immune system remains strong and is able to fight off an infection like COVID-19.
In this case we recommend that you nominate a family member or friend to collect your medication on your behalf. You can do this by calling 0801 313 992.
If you don’t have someone who can collect on your behalf, you can still collect your medication as many of the COVID-19 symptoms are also associated with ‘flu and other illnesses, but be sure to wear a face-mask, and keep a distance of two metres between yourself and other people. It is very important that you continue taking your medication during the COVID-19 pandemic to strengthen your immune system, which can help you fight off infections.
Self-isolation means keep yourself away from others if you think you have COVID-19 infection. It involves avoiding public places (including public transport), and limiting contact with relatives, friends and colleagues − while practising physical distancing, wearing a face-mask, and regularly washing or sanitising your hands and surfaces in your environment.
If you run out of medication while self-isolating, call the CCMDD helpline on 0801 313 992 for guidance. You can also contact your facility for assistance with a home delivery.
Yes. You can now visit your nearest facility and request a script renewal and change your collection point. You can also change your pick-up point by calling the CCMDD helpline on 080 131 3992.
You have seven days to collect your medication. Thereafter your parcel will be returned to the supplier. But you can also change your pick-up point by calling the CCMDD helpline on 080 131 3992. Be sure to do this well in advance of when you next prescription is due to be refilled.
You can change your pick-up point by calling the CCMDD helpline on 080 131 3992. Be sure to do this well in advance of when you next prescription is due to be refilled.
ARV/TLD FAQs
Yes. TLD which contains Dolutegravir is the new recommended treatment for all people living with HIV. Ask your nurse about switching to this new ARV at your next clinic visit.
No, it is not a mistake. The government is rolling out a new treatment for all people living with HIV. This new drug is called Dolutegravir and is highly effective. It comes in eight different types of packaging, so don’t be surprised if your medication looks different each month. If you are unsure, you can look out for the active ingredient ‘Dolutegravir’ on the container.
No, continue taking your medication. TLD is the recommended treatment for all HIV-positive people, because it is highly effective at quickly reducing a patient’s viral load and thus strengthens the immune system sooner. As with all medication, TLD can cause some side-effects in some patients, but these can be managed by your clinician. Visit your health facility for guidance.
With support from the U.S President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the National Department of Health.
