SAHPRA unveiling National Action Plan aimed at combating use & distribution of fake medicines

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is on Tuesday unveiling the national action plan aimed at combating use and distribution of substandard and fake medicines.

The plan was developed by a committee guided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and will be adopted by the National Department of Health.

It's estimated that counterfeit medicines cost global health systems $30 billion.

Research by the WHO shows that fake medicine contain undeclared toxic substances, the wrong ingredients and they do not heal, and in some instances, kill people.

The South African government will work in a coalition to ensure that the policy is enforced, by working with police, Border Management Authority (BMA), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Health Department at large.

The plan will take form in three steps: prevention, detection and response.

That is by stopping the fake medicine before it enters the country’s borders, identifying the dangerous products that are already being circulated, and acting fast on the prosecution of criminals involved.