SCALE UP OF FAST TRACK SERVICES IN ONDO Fast Track services underscores a significant leap in the spectrum of quality service delivery. Fast Track is a model of differentiated care where a patient is guaranteed to spend less than 45 minutes at the hospital at each visit for the package of care. Differentiated care models are new forms of service delivery aimed at decongesting clinics and providing flexible forms of care for stable patients. Patients are only expected to see the physician and receive the gamut of check-ups and laboratory tests once in six months. Drug pick-ups within the six-month intervals are made more flexible and based on the interest of the patient. Differentiated care can be broadly classified into the community-based models and the facility-based models. The community-based models consists of the different packages whereby clients can receive their drugs at their convenience without coming to the health facility. Facility-based models require the patient to present at the hospital, but clinics are made more convenient. Fast Track model is one of the facility-based models of differentiated care. The scale-up of Fast Track model in Ondo state commenced February 2019 following a successful deployment of the service in 7 major sites in the state last year. The Fast Track services have now been scaled up to all supported treatment sites in Ondo state. Speaking on Fast Track services, Femi Owolagba, the Ondo Head of Office, said the model is working in Ondo state and yielding good results. Over 4000 stable patients are benefiting from the Fast Track model. According to him, retention in care had become a perennial issue, but Fast Track, as well as other differentiated care models, is addressing this challenge across APIN-supported sites in the state. Explaining the process, the Ondo State Team Lead, Dr Chiedozi Akueshi, said Fast Track ensures that the time spent by each patient from arrival at clinic to departure is less than 45 minutes. He said there are designated Fast Track officers whose job it is to ensure a seamless process and expedite drug dispensing for all patients on the Fast Track model of care.