Pharmaceuticals policy

The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) is the global federation of national organisations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists dedicated to improving the access to and value of appropriate medicine use, and contributing to changes in science, practice and health policies worldwide.

Over the last thirty years, South Africa has developed a medicines regulatory authority with internationally recognized standing. Over the past five years, it has been transformed in order to improve its performance and regulatory processes. The Medicines Control Council (MCC) is a statutory body that was established in terms of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act, 101 of 1965, to oversee the regulation of medicines in South Africa.

The Medicines Information Centre is an independent, non-profit organisation situated in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Cape Town Medical School. They offer a free information and consultation service to all health professionals. Their mission is to research and provide information and expert assistance on all matters pertaining to the rational use of medicines in southern Africa, thereby promoting the health of all its people.

As an organisation promoting the highest possible standards of medical ethics, the WMA provides ethical guidance to physicians through its Declarations and Statements. These also help to guide National Medical Associations, governments and international organizations throughout the world. The Declarations and Statements cover a wide range of subjects, including an international code of medical ethics, the rights of patients, research on human subjects, care of the sick and wounded in time of armed conflict, torture of prisoners, the use and abuse of drugs, family planning and pollution.

A useful source of reliable drug information. BNF39 is the latest updated version available.

Aims to support countries in developing national drug policies, to work towards the rational use of drugs.

The Drug Information Association provides a neutral global forum for the exchange and dissemination of information on the discovery, development, evaluation, and utilization of medicines and related healthcare technologies

In a surprise move yesterday, Parliaments health committee scrapped a controversial Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Bill clause which gave the health minister the final say on whether new medicines could be sold in SA.

The registrar of medicines, Mandisa Hela, admitted to MPs yesterday that the Medicines Control Council could not cope with its workload, and was in dire need of an overhaul.

Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has approved a 6,5% maximum increase on prices of medicines, announced in a Government Gazette published last week. The earliest that consumers will see price hikes will be at the beginning of May, 16 months after the last round of price increases.