Pharmacists will finally apply for HIV treatment permits

THE South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is hoping that as soon as November, pharmacists who have already completed supplementary training, will be able to apply for permits to provide HIV medications.

- NICOLA DANIELS

"We anticipate by November people should start applying for permits," SACP registrar Vincent Tlala told a media briefing yesterday.

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed an appeal by the Independent Practitioners Association Foundation (IPA) seeking to stop the implementation of Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (Pimart). Pimart is an initiative that allows accredited pharmacists to administer first-line therapy for the treatment and management of HIV/ AIDS.

These include medicines like Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and first-line antiretrovirals (ARVs) and in complex cases, pharmacists would refer patients to clinicians.