GP Care CELL
The GPCC is FPD’s private sector contracting model co-developed with our partner PPO Serve. The GPCC was a highly visible, well-functioning NHI demonstration project that operated in Gauteng Province 2018-2022. The GPCC program is a structured network of General Practitioner (GP) practices and community pharmacies that are organized and managed by us to deliver a predefined basket of services funded by a purchaser-provider contract. The GPCC is a comprehensive contracting solution offering evidence based clinical management, care coordination, network management, stock logistics and control, financial administration, and monitoring and evaluation. The model successfully integrated with existing Gauteng-funded supply chain management processes and provided an alternative platform through which to reach and manage patients who otherwise do not access standard public sector primary health care (PHC) delivery models.
Figure 1: Overview of the GPCC operational model
The GPCC has demonstrated a model that is rapidly scalable, compliant with South African governance criteria, low risk and a relatively low administrative burden for government and the contracted service providers. The GPCC achieved a substantial geographic footprint in high density, urban settings in Gauteng Province, a functioning supply chain (including access to Gauteng-funded medicines and laboratory services) and an information management and clinical workflow system called the Intelligent Care System (ICS) which allows data exchange and reporting with the South African government. The model has been successfully demonstrated for purchasing HIV testing and treatment (ART) and prevention (PrEP) services, as well as achieving good patient outcomes (>94% viral load suppression rate, >61% return rate for PrEP amongst men). Although the current funding has focused on HIV, the systems and processes are not disease specific and can be rapidly customized to encompass a broader PHC package of care. Similar work, with a strong emphasis on value-based care continues with our partner, PPO Serve (www.pposerve.co.za)