SAHPRA notes increase in fake medicines in SA

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said it had noted the increase in the number of fake medicines in the country.

The regulator said investigations in the 2021/2022 fiscal reported 130 findings, and the next year the number doubled to 297.

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From 2024 into 2025, the number stands at 507.

The regulator launched the national action plan aimed at establishing a cooperation between the health industry, suppliers and law enforcement to combat this.

SAHPRA CEO Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela was speaking at the launch in Kempton on Tuesday.

"The problem is growing, but we need to let the public know that there is a mechanism to report and we, therefore, have to work with industry because it's mainly your products that are being falsified and we need to jointly work together to send awareness to this."