Brief
Dis‑Chem and Cipla Foundation launch nurse‑led clinic in Cape Town’s Macassar
The clinic, led by clinical nurse practitioner Patricia‑Ann Smith, aims to reduce transport costs and waiting times for the 52,400‑person community.
By Felo News Desk · Published
On 13 October 2026, Dis‑Chem’s Better Tomorrow programme and the Cipla Foundation’s Sha’p Left initiative opened a nurse‑led primary‑health clinic in Macassar, a working‑class suburb of Cape Town.
What happened
The fee‑for‑service practice is fully licensed to dispense Schedule 4 medication, allowing patients to be examined, diagnosed and receive prescriptions in a single visit. It serves a community of roughly 52,400 residents across 14,000 households, many of whom rely on the local community health centre for primary and maternity care.
What the reports add
Bizcommunity notes that the clinic will address everyday barriers such as high transport costs, lost working hours and long queues at public facilities. It also highlights that the model is designed to be self‑sustaining, operating without ongoing philanthropic funding.
What was said
Joshila Shiba, Dis‑Chem’s head of health equity and sustainability, said, “Better Tomorrow is about finding practical ways to bring quality care closer to communities.” Patricia‑Ann Smith, the clinic’s clinical nurse practitioner, said, “I have always wanted to own a healthcare business… caring for my own community means a great deal to me.”
How it came about
The partnership builds on Dis‑Chem’s Better Tomorrow programme and the Cipla Foundation’s Sha’p Left initiative, which supports qualified nurses—predominantly women—with infrastructure, training and operational systems to establish independent practices.
Key facts
- The clinic opened on 13 Oct 2026 in Macassar, Cape Town. (bizcommunity.com)
- Clinical nurse practitioner Patricia‑Ann Smith leads the fee‑for‑service practice. (bizcommunity.com)
- The clinic can dispense Schedule 4 medication, enabling same‑day diagnosis and treatment. (bizcommunity.com)
- Dis‑Chem’s Better Tomorrow programme and Cipla Foundation’s Sha’p Left initiative partnered on the project. (bizcommunity.com)
- Macassar houses about 52,400 people in 14,000 households. (bizcommunity.com)
Sources
- [1] bizcommunity.com — originally reported as “Dis-Chem, Cipla open nurse-led clinic in underserved Cape Town community”
