A leading healthcare non-profit organization that was started in response to the public healthcare emergency of HIV and AIDS in South Africa in 2001, Right to Care (RTC) has opened its doors in Namibia with the intention to increase access to medicine for Namibians.
For nearly 20 years, RTC has supported and delivered prevention, care and treatment services for HIV, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections and Hepatitis C, whilst also responding to global healthcare emergencies such as Covid-19 through its various programmes.
“With a proven track record in setting up, scaling and maintaining innovative health solutions driven by high-level data analytics, RTC works closely with a range of multi-sectoral strategic partners, health ministries and USG donors in South Africa, across the African continent and in other parts of the world,” the organisation said.
Founded by Professor Ian Sanne who is also its CEO, RTC is registered as a Section 21 (non-profit) organization, based in Johannesburg.
Prof Ian Sanne is the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) Network’s International vice Chair. He is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also the Founder and Division Head of the Clinical HIV Research Unit at Wits, which is active in the development of transformative clinical research into new diagnostic tests for and the treatment of HIV, tuberculosis, and infectious diseases. Furthermore, Prof Sanne is the founding Division Head of the Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Unit, a collaborative effort with Boston University’s School of International Health.
“Since 2001, RTC has supported patients on antiretroviral therapy, patients in care and support, conducted voluntary counselling and testing thousands of health care workers. RTC focuses on providing access to care through high quality, innovative treatment solutions in both the public and private sectors,” RTC said.
RTC also plays a key role in the last mile dispensing of ART and chronic medicines through a RTC subsidiary – Right ePharmacy, which uses elockers to increase access to medicines in the last mile space and wishes to do the same concept in Namibia.