Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

New lockers at 7-11 stores let polyclinic patients pick up medicine all day

SINGAPORE — Patients with a regular drug prescription for chronic diseases may now collect their medication any time of the day, under a tie-up between National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) and 7-Eleven convenience stores.

A National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) staff demonstrating how NHGP patients can use the locker to pick up their medical prescriptions from lockers located in over 30 7-Eleven stores across Singapore. Photo: Robin Choo/TODAY

A National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP) staff demonstrating how NHGP patients can use the locker to pick up their medical prescriptions from lockers located in over 30 7-Eleven stores across Singapore. Photo: Robin Choo/TODAY

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — Patients with the National Healthcare Group Polyclinics (NHGP), who have regular drug prescriptions for chronic diseases, may now collect their medication any time of the day at 7-Eleven convenience stores.

The NHGP is offering a first-of-its-kind 24-hour locker service, available at 34 stores across Singapore, for patients or their authorised caregivers to pick up the pre-packed medicine given under a valid doctor’s prescription.

There is a S$4 fee, and payment can be made through online banking service at any AXS self-service machines, or at the polyclinics. 

About 10 selected patients with chronic conditions have been using these lockers since March 1, and at a media briefing on Wednesday (July 19) to announce this, the NHGP is hoping more will make use of the service.

Dr Lim Ziliang, 35, deputy head of Yishun Polyclinic, said that the polyclinic sees between 400 and 500 patients with chronic illnesses daily.  

The locker service is also for those under the NHGP’s telecare where healthcare needs are administered to patients remotely, as well as for those who want flexible timings when collecting their medication.

Dr Lim said: “Telecare patients (who are stable with one or two medical conditions) do not need to visit the clinic often. For example, those with hypertension can monitor their blood pressure at home and key in their own readings into the system, which nurses can track.” 

“In the past, we’ll ask them to go to the clinic to collect their prescriptions, but now we can potentially send the medication to them,” he added.

On why 7-Eleven was chosen, Ms Chan Soo Chung, 54, executive director of National Healthcare Group Pharmacy, said that since many patients do not live near the polyclinics, the aim is to deliver medication to places where most people congregate, and 7-Eleven stores are mostly located in malls or near housing districts.

The stores, being air-conditioned, also help medication to “stay fresh and not deteriorate”, she added.

Furthermore, as queuing times at polyclinics can peak at 20 minutes, this option “gives them more flexibility to plan their time”, she said.  

Eligible patients may submit their medication order via three options: The NHG Pharmacy mobile application, NHG Pharmacy’s website, or through NHGP’s contact centre. 

Medication will then be delivered to their preferred locker location within three working days. 

Patients will be alerted on their mobile phone via SMS and have 48 hours to collect their medication using a one-time passcode to retrieve the packs from the lockers.

Mr Maslan Ahamad, 48, a security officer who is on long-term medication, said: “I work 12-hour shifts, so it is difficult for me to visit the polyclinic just to get my (medicine). 

“I am happy that I can now choose to pick it up any time at a place close to my home without affecting my work schedule.”

Besides this new locker service, the NHG has been offering home delivery of medicines for patients since 2003, at a S$4 fee.

Up to 100 home deliveries are made each month, Ms Chan said, but the downside of this is that “a lot of people are not at home” to receive them. 

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.