Ensure the Effective, Efficient and Economical Management of Allocated Resources of the Directorate
Designation: Pharmacy Stores Officer (PSSO)
Reporting Period: January 2026 – August 2026
To ensure that healthcare facilities received adequate ICT infrastructure to support RxSolution implementation, expansion, reporting, stock management, dispensing services and compliance with national digital health initiatives.
Activities Undertaken
During 2026, extensive coordination was undertaken with Provincial Pharmaceutical Services, District Pharmacy Managers, facility management teams and ICT personnel to identify hardware requirements required for the effective operation of RxSolution across KwaZulu-Natal health facilities. This process formed part of the National Department of Health ICT Hardware Donation Programme for the 2026/27 financial year.
A comprehensive assessment was coordinated to determine infrastructure gaps affecting RxSolution implementation. Districts and facilities submitted detailed equipment requirements covering:
- Desktop computers
- Servers
- Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) units
- Desk/MFC printers
- Label printers
- Wi-Fi connectivity devices
- Backup infrastructure
These submissions were reviewed and consolidated to support provincial planning and submission to the National Department of Health.
Key Findings Identified
- Aging and obsolete computer equipment.
- Limited availability of dedicated RxSolution workstations.
- Insufficient printers for stock management and dispensing functions.
- Poor network connectivity in rural facilities.
- Frequent power interruptions affecting service continuity.
- Limited availability of backup equipment.
Outcomes Achieved
- Provincial ICT requirements successfully compiled and submitted.
- Hardware deficiencies formally documented for budgeting and donor support initiatives.
- District-level resource gaps identified for future intervention.
- Support provided for national ICT hardware donation planning.
- Strengthened readiness for continued RxSolution expansion and transition initiatives.
To strengthen user competency, improve system utilisation, support compliance requirements and develop sustainable technical support capacity across the province.
Activities Undertaken
The Pharmacy Stores Office participated in provincial and national RxSolution Enablement initiatives aimed at building sustainable capacity in pharmacy, supply chain and ICT environments. Training programmes were delivered in collaboration with the National Department of Health, BroadReach and provincial stakeholders.
Stock Management Training
This training strengthened users' ability to:
- Manage pharmaceutical inventory.
- Conduct stock transactions.
- Generate reports.
- Improve data quality.
- Strengthen medicine accountability processes.
Training was conducted in multiple provinces including Limpopo, North West, Eastern Cape and Gauteng.
Dispensing Training
Dispensing training focused on:
- Patient dispensing functionality.
- Labelling processes.
- Prescription management.
- Workflow optimisation.
- Patient safety initiatives.
The training significantly improved participant confidence in utilisation of dispensing functionality.
IT Support Training
A three-day National RxSolution IT Support Programme was supported and promoted to strengthen technical support structures.
Topics covered included:
- RxSolution installation.
- SQL Server configuration.
- User account management.
- API configuration.
- Database synchronisation.
- Backup and recovery.
- Printer configuration.
- Troubleshooting procedures.
Attendance exceeded 230 participants on Day 1 and included IT personnel and pharmacist super-users from multiple provinces.
Results Achieved
The programme produced measurable improvements:
Training Reach
386+end-users trained nationally
343users formally assessed
246participants assessed as competent
- Competency certificates issued to successful candidates.
- Attendance certificates provided to users requiring additional support.
Improved User Confidence
- Stock Management confidence improved significantly following training interventions.
- Dispensing training demonstrated the highest improvement in confidence and competency levels amongst participants.
Sustainability Measures
Support was provided for development of:
- Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Training manuals.
- Training videos.
- National toolkits.
- Refresher training plans.
- Standardised reporting tools.
These interventions support long-term sustainability and reduce dependence on external assistance.
To support governance processes, strengthen compliance with audit requirements and improve the management of pharmaceutical information systems resources.
Activities Undertaken
The PSSO participated in various RxSolution Provincial Enablement and National Task Team forums where governance, audit findings, transition planning and system improvement initiatives were discussed and actioned.
Audit Support Activities
Support was provided in addressing recurring AGSA findings involving:
- User access management controls.
- System security requirements.
- Backup and recovery controls.
- Disaster recovery processes.
- Governance documentation.
- Audit logging requirements.
Management responses and improvement actions were coordinated to address these areas.
Transition Planning
Support was provided towards the national transition from SVS to RxSolution.
Activities included:
- Completion of transition templates.
- Facility readiness assessments.
- Verification of hardware readiness.
- Coordination of API integration requirements.
- Monitoring reporting compliance.
These activities ensured appropriate utilisation of available resources and alignment with national planning requirements.
Data Quality and Reporting Improvements
Participation in enablement meetings facilitated implementation of measures aimed at:
- Improving data accuracy.
- Standardising reports.
- Enhancing automated reporting.
- Strengthening data governance processes.
- Supporting National Surveillance Centre reporting requirements.
Outcomes Achieved
- Improved governance oversight of RxSolution operations.
- Enhanced audit readiness through structured training and certification.
- Strengthened support for AGSA audit response initiatives.
- Improved planning for ICT and pharmaceutical system resources.
- Enhanced collaboration between Pharmaceutical Services, ICT and National Department of Health stakeholders.
- Improved readiness for future digital health initiatives and expanded RxSolution implementation.
Overall Achievement Against KRA 5
During the reporting period, the Pharmacy Stores Office effectively supported the management of allocated resources through:
- Strategic ICT resource planning and mobilisation to support RxSolution implementation.
- Capacity building and training programmes that strengthened user competency and system utilisation.
- Governance, audit support and system improvement initiatives that enhanced compliance, accountability and operational efficiency.
KwaZulu-Natal Health · Pharmacy Stores Office