Dis-Chem

I'm excited to share the first published article towards my doctorate ("Validation of a Medication Adherence Risk Score (MARS) derived from transactional dispensary data as a possible predictor of mortality risk"). A huge thank you to my supervisors Natalie Schellack Christa Janse van Rensburg Audrey Jansen van Rensburg It's a topic that means a lot to me personally, as I believe in the power of using #evidence-backed concepts to influence practical change. The project consists of 3 articles touching on different elements of the topic. This paper (“Beyond prescriptions: chronic medication adherence predicts mortality risk in a large-scale cohort study") represents a #statistical analysis to show the ability of an #adherence-based score to predict #mortality risk. We developed a simple tool called the Medication Adherence Risk Score (MARS) built from #pharmacy transactional data to see how adherence to #chronic medication affects mortality risk. What we found: • For adults 25 to 55, a higher MARS score was associated with a higher actual-to-expected risk of death. • People with better adherence lived longer in time-to-event analyses. What to keep in mind is that this study used only private-sector data and ran through the COVID period, which can blur signals. However, even with those limits in mind, the message is clear. Encouraging better adherence is not just a nice idea - it has the ability to impact long-term outcomes (both #clinical and economic). It is a measurable risk factor that health systems, employers, and insurers can act on. I believe that this warrants future work on the topic, and a hard look at how we can incorporate adherence-based interventions into chronic #disease management - something that exists as a global #healthcare challenge. Read the paper here and let me know your thoughts: https://lnkd.in/dpXASgDy

We're still buzzing from the incredible support for Better Rewards from our priority customers: our employees! At the heart of our brand, our strength lies in the dedication of our people. That's why we created Better Rewards with the Priority Customer Boost. It offers our employees an additional 10% off on the 140+ Better Rewards Brands. It's our way of saying thank you! Join Dis-Chem and unlock the kind of benefits (and savings) that genuinely put employees first

If you know me, you’ll know I love a good story, and this one is about more than numbers. It’s about how we’re evolving Dis-Chem Pharmacies from a traditional retail pharmacy into an integrated healthcare partner and provider. We exist to increase access to quality primary healthcare and reduce its cost. This year, we’ve invested our money (and energy) in projects that build a larger ecosystem, from X, bigly labs powering innovation like never before, to the launch of #BetterRewards and our expanding healthcare and financial services portfolio. Better Rewards reimagines how loyalty can empower participation in healthcare, unlocking real value that customers can reinvest in their well-being. Each investment is a step towards becoming South Africa’s go-to health authority, making quality healthcare more affordable, more accessible, and more human . . . 💚

Throwback to our Partner Launch, where over 140 of our incredible brand partners joined forces with Capitec to celebrate a shared vision: re-writing the rules of loyalty and health. People understand the power of a discount, it’s the perfect way to welcome them into the Dis-Chem world, where we can do what truly matters: help improve people’s health and live up to our promise that Better Health Starts Here. Together, we’re on our way to reducing the cost of healthcare and increasing access for more South Africans than ever before. Grateful to X, Bigly Labs our innovation hub for bringing this incredible programme to life with all of us.