Health Minister Motsoaledi warns that fake medicine hitting the poorest hardest

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has warned that fake medicines were hitting the poorest of society the most.

He said this was because the substandard and falsified medicines were being sold at lower market prices.

In response, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) on Tuesday launched the national action plan to combat this. 

The plan will do so through prevention, detection and response.

Motsoaledi said the falsified medicine was deliberately or fraudulently misrepresented in its identity and composition, while substandard medical products are authorised but fail to meet their quality standards and specifications. 

He said while there might be differences in the medicine, its contents could prove harmful to the patient’s health.

He cited an example of children who died in Gambia from consuming fake medicine, saying he did not want the same to happen in South Africa. 

"Those who draft handbook frame the strategic objectives and goals, with actions, inputs, outputs and outcomes used for developing strategic and operational plans, and provides insights into approaches for operational planning, monitoring and evaluation," said Motsoaledi.

He added that the national action plan will ensure the safety and quality of medical products.