Jambo Africa Online’s Publisher, SAUL MOLOBI, spends a day with a pharmacist and entrepreneur who has undertaken a vigorous crusade to build awareness of STIs among the youth.
In enhancing their brand mantra, “your health is your wealth”, Onpoint Healthcare waxed biblical by proclaiming “Thalitha Koum” as the theme for their seminar that was intended to save lives by avoiding sexually transmitted infections (STIs) particularly among the youth. This auspicious event targeted the youth within the age bracket of 15 to 24 aimed to encourage the message the youth to become health conscious in order to eliminate the spread of STIs by taking precautionary measures and also what to do if they suspected any exposure to a possibility of infections.
This Pretoria-based company’s facility provides Post Exposure Prophylactic treatment against HIV/AIDS; Morning After Pill for Pregnancy Prevention and Antibiotics for possible STIs within 72 hours of possible exposure. This meassage to the youth is critical as the world every year celebrates the International TB Day – one of the diseases that claims thousands of lives every year – in March and the HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in December. “We make every day an awareness day for these two pandemics,” says Boitumelo Ntsoane, the founder of the company and a pharmacist by profession.
OnPoint Healthcare is 100% black women owned independent, growing and highly reputable company in the healthcare industry. Boitumelo had over 20 years’ experience, an astute entrepreneur with knowledge, understanding and experience in the health care sector. Her vision and passion for the healthcare industry led to the establishment of the company with the main objective of anchoring herself as a critical stakeholder in preventative healthcare services.
OnPoint Healthcare’s strategy has been aligned to the envisioned National Health Insurance and has participated in Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) with National Department of Health in Tshwane such as the roll-out of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) campaign in schools and her Community Pharmacy used as a pilot site for the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD). The mobile clinic nursing team partnered with Gift of the Givers to offer onsite COVID-19 screening and testing for Polmed, GEMS and privately owned businesses employees since lockdown. First Care Courier pharmacy also utilizes our services for HIV and Diabetes Testing. We have recently implemented a project with Bonita’s Medical Aid by providing training and Personal Protection Equipment to teachers in 80 schools in Tshwane. Our nursing team also serviced Road Accident Fund (RAF) patients by doing home visits and assisting with much needed medical consumables i.e. catheters, urine bags, dressings etc.
Her career started after completing her degree at Rhodes University in the year 2000. She then completed her internship at Transomed Retail Pharmacies and proceeded to do her community service at Lebowakgomo Hospital in Limpopo. Her experience over the last 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry is broad, which includes Medical Aid Administration within the Metropolitan Health Group, Manufacturing and Production at Portfolio Pharmaceuticals, Supply and Distribution of medication in Cartonville Goldfields Mine and owning a Primary Health Care Clinic and a Community Pharmacy.
The company’s Senior Management roles are occupied by healthcare professionals who have diverse skills and absolute passion for serving patients. “Our commitment is to empower the patient in line with our motto . ‘“your health is your wealth’,” says Ms Ntsoane matter-of-factly. “We’re dedicated to the availability of affordable and quality healthcare in order to enhance our people’s quality of life.”
The company has gained immense experience and knowledge in the last twelve years of existence. “We have undertaken a number of successful projects mostly in the health risk and assessment environment. We have serviced both the private and public sector clients, each sector with its own challenges, limitations and expectations,” Ms Ntsoane commented confidently. “We have put in place solutions that maintain uninterrupted services and also formed strategic partnerships which allows us to render our services in all provinces. We acknowledge the critical role of collaboration and patient centric care in the healthcare industry.”
But who is Ms Ntsoane? She possesses a number of illustrious professional and vocational qualifications. These are a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Rhodes University; Certificate in Business Management conferred by the University of North West; Goldman Sachs-GIBS 10,000 Women Certificate Programme; and Advanced Project Management (Cum-Laude) from Damelin College.
Believing in the principle of life-long learning, she recently completed the Board of Healthcare Funders Trustee Programme through the Wits Business School and also completed an Advanced Diabetes Care through CDE Diabetes Academy, as well as a course in Managing Markets for Health at the University of Edinburgh on 10 October 2020. She is also a competent Public Speaker on Health Promotions and completed a nationwide tour with Media 24 Stokvel events as well as other Corporates such as AVBOB. A health columnist for several publications, she is currently finalizing her dissertation for her Master’s in Public Health through Sefako Makgatho University for Health Sciences.
Onpoint healthcare has met the need for reliable and affordable delivery of medical services by developing a thorough understanding of the patient’s needs and expectations. It has successfully implemented Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) projects which include the following:
- Establishment of a Community Medical Centre for over 10 years in Pretoria West Area. This medical centre incorporated a primary healthcare clinic within the pharmacy managed by retired nurses to promote health awareness and education. The clinic has since moved to Hatmed Medical Centre in Pretoria specializing in wound management and health assessments.
- The medical centre was a pilot site for the National Department of Health in the rollout of Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) Project which was successfully implemented nationally to reduce patient waiting times when they collect their chronic medication.
- The company has a fully furnished mobile clinic which successfully piloted the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV) campaign in schools in Tshwane in partnership with National Department of Health.
- Recently established a Call-centre for Women living with HIV, with pharmacists to resolve HIV and COVID-19 related queries.
- Supply of COVID-19 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and medical consumables
The call centre is comprised of highly skilled team of multi-lingual managers and staff who have extensive experience in pharmacy and customer relations.
Onpoint healthcare has forged strategic partnerships with a number of companies that include the following:
- First Care Courier Pharmacy with over 12 years in supplying ARV’S to medical aid patients. First Care currently services patients from Sizwe, Keyhealth and Hosmed amongst others. Each scheme is allocated an exclusive call centre team.
- We Care Pharmacy Network, an initiative of the Computassist Group of Companies. This network comprises over 1000 well distributed community pharmacies in Southern African Development Community (SADEC).
- Gift of The Givers assisting in COVID, HIV, Diabetes Testing onsite.
- At LegalHeath we are able through multidisciplinary professional collaboration cross refer internally leveraged on our professional skills encompassing: litigators, health care regulatory specialist, experienced pharmacists and corporate law pharmacists.
For more information, please speak to:
Boitumelo Ntsoane at 079 646 6723