What does the Her-Zone pharmacy-access dataset cover, and how is it built?

What zones does Her-Zone cover, and how are they defined?

Her-Zone scores pharmacy access across 1,054 governed analysis zones as at 3 August 2026. Zones are the unit of analysis: each zone carries a pharmacy-access score, a demand profile, and a confidence grade derived from the underlying source data. The 5,200+ active community pharmacies in the dataset are the inputs that produce zone-level access scores, not the primary output.

The precise active pharmacy count (see benchmark table above) is sourced from the SAPC statutory register and published as a dated supporting figure. It is not the full national register; it is the active operational subset.

How complete is the coverage?

5,211 active pharmacies of 5,383 records carry verified coordinates, and active records are present in all 9 provinces. Coverage is maintained continuously, with openings, closures, and relocations applied to the live dataset rather than batched into an annual refresh.

Near-complete geocoding turns a list into a market view: drive times, catchments, and zone-level demand only work when the overwhelming majority of doors have a verified position.

What makes this a governed count?

Every figure is traceable to a named source: the dataset is assembled with every input source-attributed with a recorded legal basis, led by the SAPC statutory register (Pharmacy Act 53 of 1974), not modelled estimates. Counting rules are conservative and stated: published figures count only active records, and deactivated zones or closed pharmacies are excluded even though they remain in the database for history.

The data is assembled and stored in South Africa under POPIA discipline, and moves to clients over auditable Microsoft 365 channels.

How current are these figures?

The figures on this page were read from the live database on 3 August 2026; the page refreshes on a recurring cycle. The underlying dataset itself is live; for a current reading, or a view of your own territory against the benchmark, start the diagnostic conversation below.

Can I use these figures?

Yes, with attribution: cite "Her-Zone Coverage Benchmark, Herbst Group, 3 August 2026" and link to this page. The underlying record-level dataset and its assembly methodology are proprietary and not redistributed; zone-level views are available to clients through the Her-Zone platform.