By Akani Nkuna
University of Cape Town is leading the charge in healthcare innovation in the Global South with its game-changing clinical support tool known as the Practical Approach to Care Kit (PACK) programme.
The programme comprises clinical guidance, an implementation strategy, health systems strengthening and monitoring and evaluation components.
UCT spokesperson Velisile Bukula said that “with primary healthcare systems globally facing mounting challenges, such as increased co-morbidities, changing climate-driven disease patterns and infectious diseases outbreaks, PACK offers a critical lifeline”.
PACK, which was developed by UCT’s Knowledge Translation Unit has achieved widespread adoption in South Africa as primary adult care and in Ethiopia’s Primary Healthcare Clinical Guidelines. It is now being implemented in Brazil and Indonesia.
“Through PACK, UCT continues to demonstrate leadership in healthcare innovation, improving patient outcomes and empowering primary healthcare workers across the Global South,” Bukula said in a statement on Monday.
Recent publications in BMJ Global Health journal feature PACK’s pivotal role in fostering sustainable, high-quality primary care across varied contexts, showcasing successful implementation experiences, including in:
• Chronic Respiratory Disease Management in Brazil;
• National Scale-Up in Ethiopia;
• Infectious Diseases Outbreak Response in Brazil and;
• Care for Multiple Long-Term Conditions.
“Initiatives like PACK exemplify UCT’s vision 2030 goal to ‘unleash human potential to create a fair and just society’, by addressing critical healthcare needs across diverse communities,” said Bukula.
“PACK empowers health workers to provide equitable, high-quality care, bridging gaps in health care access across the Global South,” he added.
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