South Africa pioneers first African plan to combat fake medicines

SOUTH Africa, in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and led by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), has officially launched Africa's first comprehensive National Action Plan (NAP) to combat Substandard and Falsified (SF) medical products.

- THABO MAKWAKWA

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi addressed the gathering via Zoom, stating that the government of South Africa, in collaboration with the WHO and led by SAHPRA, is conducting a pilot on the NAP, a member-state mechanism whose success will inform the rollout of the NAP handbook to all UN Member States.

He stated that the NAP is a coordinated five-year strategy to strengthen prevention, detection, and response mechanisms in tackling SF medical products, a growing global threat to patient safety and the integrity of the health system.

He added that WHO defines falsified medical products as deliberately misrepresenting their identity or source and lacking regulatory approval, and that substandard products are authorised medicines that fail quality standards due to poor manufacturing or quality control.

According to Motsoaledi, both can lead to treatment failure, increased drug resistance, and compromised patient safety.

"A significant percentage of substandard and falsified products circulating globally are found in Africa," Motsoaledi stated.