Dis-Chem Pharmacies
reviews and complaints

The Vaccination site at the dischem at Mall @ Carnival in Brakpan is honestly not efficiently run. When I received my first dose in August, I cut them some slack because they had just started operating it. I waited +2hrs to get vaccinated. Now, October 6th, 2nd dose time and they are STILL extremely slow?! I do not understand why the process takes sooo much time still. If they are understaffed, surely something can be done about that? The wait is honestly ridiculous. What's the point of even booking an appointment time? The Dischem at Springs Mall was a quick in and out for my brother. Carnival Mall branch needs to do better please. Regret giving them the benefit of the doubt.

I would like to lay a complaint against a Wellness Clinic Nurse. I booked an appointment online at Mall of the south Dischem for 14:45. I arrived in time and I waited at the waiting area because there was no one mending the Wellness Clinic reception. After 10 minutes a nurse came out with a mother and a child. She looked around and went back in and I thought she's only assisting kids, her consulting room is written child care. There was no one at reception to ask any question. When the reception arrived I told her I was there for an appointment. When she called the nurse the nurse was so rude and humiliated me in front of everyone telling me I was late and she didnt see me and I should have came in, but she saw us and went back in. Please send your staff for Customer Care Training. I dont work at Dischem to know their procedure. She should have talked to me politely and let me know when she will be able to see me, that's it. There was no need for her to be so rude.

After my complaint of last Friday, Mark from the Walmer Branch contacted me this afternoon with an apology and came to assist my son and myself with our vaccination. I would like to thank Mark for the kind and caring manner he displayed towards us and rectifying the situation. It is reassuring to know that there are still people out there who care.

Always have to wait 30 to 60 minutes at pharmacy side
Al lot of printouts say where you have to stand for chronis and slef service
But no one helping at chronic or clinic
Staff make if they do not see you
If you just want to asked for help or information you have the get in the queue
Because of all the eole waiting and no help or someone just to guide you there is no social distance
If you want to pay yo have another 20 minutes to queue
Remember it is sick people or people with a pain that visit the parmacy side

On the 24 August 2021 my son and I made an online Covid Vaccination booking for the time slot between 16h00 and 17h00 (4pm and 5pm) on Friday, 3 September 2021. We arrived at the Walmer Dischem Clinic at 16h30 (4:30pm) only to be turned away as they were not prepared to mix another vial of vaccine mixture for us as they only do 6 people at a time. We were told under no circumstances were they interested in helping and we must come back on Monday morning and see if they can help us. We had specially booked this time slot in order to get of work and not to lose money as we are hourly paid!

We will not leave this complaint at this. We will go viral to social media and escalate onto government portal.

I received a pulmicort turbuhaler which is not working. I have been using pumps all my life and this is not working. Husband tried returning it and was told it works. I am pissed to say the least.

On wednesday the 25th of august I had a covid test at century city dischem. I am a monkeynastix instructor and work with more than 150 children at different locations every week. As I was not feeling well, and not wanting to endanger the children I decided to go for a covid test with money I did not have as my husband lost his job last year. I was tested and told I am negative. My husband was waiting for my result as he had to go for his second vaccination which he obviously did as apparently I was negative.
That evening I started with a chesty cough and as I have asthma, I decided to go to bellville clinic the next day even though I was meant to go to work. This was the reason I opted to go for the test at dischem the previous day because I heard you can get your results immediately. I also do and did not have money to go see a doctor for what I thought was bronchitis brewing, seeing I tested negative for covid.
Thankfully the sister at bellville clinic suggested I be tested again. This is where my complaint against dischem started. The way that the test was done at bellville clinic is absolutely no comparison to the way the test was done at dischem. The nursing sisters at the clinic were very shocked to hear that my experience was a very univasive and comfortable one at dischem. And just by the way, they also did the same rapid test that was done at dischem and found that in actual fact I am positive!
I hope you see the seriousness of this situation. My husband's health has been put at serious risk as he was vaccinated and now has symptoms of covid that he obviously contracted from me. If the test was done correctly the result would have been correct and he would not have had the vaccine. Next, I had to pay r350 that I do not have and could have paid for other necessities. Also, I and the sisters at bellville clinic wonder just how many people walk away from a covid test at dischem, are told they negative and just keep spreading the virus or even worse land up in hospital or die!

A day which was supposed to be a good day after taking my first covid vaccine was certainly ruined. I had a scheduled appointment at dischem galleria from 12-2pm, completed the form and sat in the queue to have my data captured. Before I even reached the person to assist she started asking us whose next in the line to which I replied me, there were three of us at that point in time awaiting, she then replied with, you guys are not sitting in the right way, and abruptly told one of the other people you move to the end and you move next to him. I then proceed to her station to be assisted and she continues with her arrogance and unmannerly behaviour stating that We were sitting wrong, so I then replied stating that we were asked to sit the way we were and she continued being rude going on about the manner in which we were positioned despite myself and the other two people telling her that we didn't choose to sit that way we were asked to by another of colleagues. She then continued arguing with us.

This lady speaks to people at the vaccine site as if we are beneath her and for some reason in a manner of which she is in a position of superiority and this should not be tolerated especially assisting people before going to have the vaccine jab, making someone feel aggravated before being administered an injection can lead to many after effects because your body is already in a state of aggravation. This behaviour once again should not be tolerated! She was utterly rude, arrogant and arguing with patients going In before a vaccine, three of us witnessed this.

When I asked another staff member for her name he was a bit afraid to provide this information so unfortunately I cannot provide this, she is the Indian female who was capturing the information from our forms prior to the vaccine being administered.

I loaded my repeat prescription medication 2months ago with Dischem Centurion Mall went in to collect my medication for the new month (Chronic Medication) and was told that they are sorry they cannot find anything rudely!the lady then tells me are you that you went to a Doctor !
A minute later she finds my details first incident !
I then tell her that I need the repeat for myself and my wife and get home to find that she did not have all of our medication added to the order ! As a Pharmacy Dischem is this the health service that you provide ? We take Chronic medication!
Second incident 07/08/2021
I visits Dischem with proscriptions for myself and wife
The medication is schedule 6 So I understand that a PHARMACIST SHOULD administer the medication
And he does with out explaining how to use it firstly !
Secondly he prescribed both under the incorrect name ! They where issued to my wife ! I need answers to this and have lodged a formal complaint with the Pharmacy(SA)
I asked the Pharmacist for adcodol and he said he cannot give them to me of which I understand
And then strated screaming out my personal medical history in the stores to add further injury he runs behind us in the store with a reciept in his hand that I did not sign for me to use at the counter after he already issued the schedule 6medication ?Is this a Circus ?! Or are u guys professional enough to deal with our health ?

Took my 1 year old son to have his regular vaccinations, in line i noticed that they were conducting covid tests. This is inside a mall, in the same line that general patients are standing and no warning or notice to let you know that you are in line with possibly positive covid patients and to top it off the same nurse is handling the covid patients and the general patients.
Isn't this inviting covid patients into areas they shouldn't be going.!? It was NOT vaccinations it was the pcr tests.! The nurse confirmed it and told us to wear double masks. Disgusting

Good day, I went to your Promenade branch in Mitchells plain for a much needed product.I'm very disappointed in fact that your company advertised "Savitone "and when I came to your branch there was no stock, I'm C.O.P.D. asthma patient, regular client to your store and many of my family and friends all purchase from your store..I need this product urgently, can you resolve this issue..

Regards

Rashid September
[protected]

I went to the Liberty vaccination centre in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, being run by dischem. I went on Thursday the 22nd where I explained I am having trouble registering online explaining how I am a 4th year student social worker. I was told to return with documentation and I will be assisted. I returned on Friday and was now being told that they cannot assist me. The manager phoned his regional manager, not fully explaining correctly that there is a notice from the SACSSP stating I can get vaccinated despite being underage. I tried explaining myself but was told to wait. He put the regional manager on loudspeaker, where he was using profanities and swearing at me. I have never been so disrespected in my life and find this disgusting.

Good day,
Natasha from head office phone me on Monday 12 July @ 8:15 to say that our chronic medication is due for a refill. I Phone Dis-Chem President to follow up on Wednesday @ 9:58. Ronel told me that it show that the medication show non dispense. So then phone Dis-Chem Vaal Mall @ 10:06. The lady there told me that they will deliver the medication on Thursday. I phone Dis-chem Vaal Mall just now @ 14:53 and then the lady told me that our medication was not made out to be delivered. Now I must wait until tomorrow for our medication to be delivered. This is not acceptable at all. I have been sitting here at home from Monday to wait for medication to be delivered that I am now only going to get tomorrow. If have not phone the store I would not have known that they will not deliver the medication.
Just want to let you know that the service suck big time!

Regards,
Mrs L Kitching

Good morning

I would like to say how dissatisfied I am over the fact that no one at Discem can help me to correct my medical aid claim for the health assessment I did over the weekend
I have benefit for cholesterol checking and blood glucose checking, however the nurse at the clinic is not willing to send through the right codes to the medical aid, I had to pay in the difference of about R240
When I called Discem, I am put through from one number to another and when I got hold of the clinic Sr, she said I have to call the medical aid and ask for the codes
How does she not know the codes? This is unacceptable and if my complaint is not taken serious, I will report on all social media platforms and Helopeter, I will come in store and make a big noise as this is unacceptable

My name is Mario Fourie
I.D [protected]

Thank you

I was confirmed positive Covid by my dr 14h45 and she send me a prescription. I immediatly forward it to Dischem Yorkstreet, George and phone them and all they say is sorry the close at 3 they cannot me and cannot wait for mt family member to collect. Now I have to go another night through feeling my brain fried a wanna melt with the fever I am getting and the pain I being having. But they say you are on the frontline but there ia no empathy helpin and waiting 5 min for a covid positive patient to fetch their medicine. This is sad if thia is how your company is handling there customers

BikerChick444 _Twitter
Thu, Jul 8, 9:51 AM (2 days ago)
to Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem

Good day,
Whenever I order online, it goes through your branch.
I need to place an order again, but the online app does not have everything i'm looking for. Not sure if maybe you are out of stock.
I tried to phone you but Cell C has been screwing me sound with my line, so i cannot call out. Apologies...
Do you mind please giving me a call to take my full order? It is kind of big.
1. Centrum for adults(biggest one)
2. Paracetamol (20tabs) x2
3. Dolorol (20tabs) x2
4. Depo injection (very very important!)
5. Sure Sleep (60tabs) x2
6. MyPaid Forte (60tabs) x2

Delivery Address:
Unit 5
Stonebridge (complex)
3886 Jan Frederick Ave
RandPark Ridge
2169
Thanking you in advance
Mrs Marianne Gao
[protected]
____________________________________________________________________
Jul 8, 2021, 3:29 PM (2 days ago)
to Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem

Good afternoon Linda

I just want to find out if im still getting my order today, cuz i still havnt received it as yet...?

Many thanx
Marianne
______________________________________________________________________
Jul 8, 2021, 5:53 PM (2 days ago)
to Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem

Linda,

I have still NOT received my order, yet ive already been charged for it.

Please explain...

See attached.

______________________________________________________________________
Jul 9, 2021, 3:40 PM (23 hours ago)
to Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem

Good day,

Its 15:40 (2 days after my order placed) and i still have not received my order.

I urgently need my injection!

Marianne
____________________________________________________________________
Jul 9, 2021, 5:13 PM (21 hours ago)
to Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem, Dis-Chem

I emailed a big order through to Benmore Gardens 2 days ago. They didn't deliver yesterday, so i emailed them asking why my order wasn't delivered. The lady (Linda) replied, stating that they had too many COVID cases and couldn't deliver.
I was assured that my order would be delivered today. At 16:00 i still haven't received my order, so i called Benmore Gardens and spoke to a Manager there. Linda then called me shortly thereafter, stating that the order was already done by RandRidge Mall yesterday.
I asked how that could be possible, if my email was clearly addressed to Benmore Gardens?
10minutes later a driver from RandRidge Mall DisChem showed up at my house.
None of what i ordered was in the order he delivered to me. Instead of the items that i ordered in my email, the staff at RandRidge Mall DisChem sent me everything on the prescription i attached to prove that i have a prescription for my DEPO injection. This has now cost me 2 days without my injection and i had to pay R784.10 for something i did NOT order!
I NEED MY INJECTION and the rest of my order.

I emailed a big order through to Benmore Gardens DisChem, 3 days ago (7th Jul 2021). They didn't deliver the day before yesterday, so I emailed them asking why my order wasn't delivered. The lady (Linda) replied, stated that they had too many COVID cases and couldn't deliver (i have email proof).

I was assured that my order would be delivered yesterday. At 16:00 I still haven't received my order, so I called Benmore Gardens DisChem and spoke to a manager there. Linda then called me shortly thereafter, stating that the order was already done by RandRidge Mall the day before yesterday.

I asked how that could be possible, if my email was clearly addressed to Benmore Gardens DisChem?
10minutes later a driver from RandRidge Mall DisChem showed up at my house.

None of what I ordered was in the order he delivered to me. Instead of the items that I ordered in my email, the staff at RandRidge Mall DisChem sent me everything on the prescription I attached to prove that I have a prescription for my DEPO injection.

This has now cost me to be 3 days without my injection and I had to pay R784.10 for something I did NOT order!

I NEED MY INJECTION and the rest of my order!

I have to do all my orders online, cuz I don't own any type of transport.

Good day

To Whom it may concern

Visited the Dis-Chem pharmacy at EXP Medical on 14th ave Constancia kloof to go and get medicine, my exerience there is very unfriendly staff working there from the pharmacist C.Mari to the lady that is working at the til, i saw the Certificate on the wall for the dispenser C.Mari for achievement off the month, think they need to send her for customer satisfaction training, the way they greet customers in such unfriendly manner just says they either had a bad Monday or the just dont want to be there.Hope u guys can resolve this matter so we as clients can experience a better and more friendlier experience next time.
Regards Mr Rousseau [protected] ([protected]@yahoo.com)

I was on the que at dischem ghandi square for 45min and I only wanted canex v .The was only two cashiers and one of them helped this old white man for the whole 45min and the other one was dealing with people that had prescriptions it was soo frustrating. How is it possible that self medication and dispensary have one quee when we all know very well that dispensary deals with prescriptions and medical aid?Can you please make your over the counter more accessible to some of us that only wants 1 item that we gonna pay for cash.45 min of my lunch break wasted on quee and I still ddnt manage to get what I wanted to buy.

Good day, I am very unhappy about the services firstly I stood in a still-standing Q for nearly an hour because there is only one lady (always the same lady) helping in the dispensary, during this hour there was another lady who came to the counter with no assisted the man in front of me and left again never returning to the counter, later I started getting frustrated and asked if anyone can assist this lady as she can not deal with all the clients on her own, another lady helping with the pre-ordered meds said we'll send someone and that was it, nothing more came from it. I asked the highly under pressure lady for meds for my baby of 8 months old with diarrhea from teething and she ended up giving me Petrolite but according to the pamphlet it is not recommended to give to anyone under the age of 3years, causing me to have to go back and exchange the medicine for something different, I do not blame the lady who assisted me, I blame the lack of staff assisting in this very busy hour most people have their lunch between the hours of 12:00-13:00 or 13:00-14:00 so that would make the malls busy at those hours they can not have only one lady assisting at the dispensary this is not the first time that I had to stand there for so long and the staff just swarming by pretending you do not exist I find it highly unfair putting all this pressure on this one lady causing her to make mistakes or even address the medicine to the wrong patient on the medical aid because there is no time to ask as the Q is pilling up. This will most definitely affect my decision on going back there ever again.