Panafrican News Agency

South Africa addresses scourge of illicit drug trafficking (By Craig Urquhart, PANA Correspondent)

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – In 1967, young Cape Town surgeon Dr Chris Barnard carried out the world’s first human heart transplant. Since then, South Africa has been widely regarded as a pioneer in the medical field and the destination for thousands of patients from around the continent seeking treatment.

When Apartheid ended in 1990, the government formulated new health care policies which emphasised public health care.

The Constitution guarantees “everyone access to health care services" and states that "no one may be refused emergency medical treatment."

As a result, refugees and asylum seekers are also entitled to access to health care services and free anti-retroviral treatment at all public health care providers in South Africa.

One hurdle for the authorities is the use of generic drugs. In 2000, generic anti-retroviral treatments started being produced and sold at a much cheaper cost. Needing to compete with these prices, the giant pharmaceutical companies who have a strong presence in South Africa were forced to lower their prices. 

The World Health Organisation believes fake medicines cause about 100,000 deaths a year in Africa. Although figures are not available in South Africa, the problem of counterfeit medicine is not extensive because of rigid border controls.

South African Narcotics Bureau (SANAB) official Gavin Nielson told PANA that local police are in touch with other police forces around the continent as well as Interpol to monitor the illicit trade of counterfeit medicine, particularly in West Africa.

“And we were recently notified about a US$530,000 Chinese pharmaceutical container which was seized in Walvis Bay by Namibia’s Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said. 

The impounded consignment was the subject of a high-level investigation into the poor quality of the products which could have found their way into neighbouring South Africa.

PANA reports that the container was initially intercepted in September 2018 when the World Customs Organisation launched what it called “Operation Mirage” targeting 14 ports in Africa to highlight the flow of fake medicine into Africa. 

One major concern for the Health Products Association of South Africa (HPA) is the unauthorised sale of counterfeit medicines on the Internet.

Dr Deepa Maharaj, chairman of the Self-Medication Manufacturers Association of South Africa, said online counterfeit orders are being mailed to South Africa on a daily basis and “they are so well packaged that it is difficult to tell the difference with genuine medicine”.

The issue was unpacked by Nigeria’s former Health Minister, Prince Julius Adewale Adelusi-Adeluyi, who addressed the Development Group South Africa forum for the pharmaceuticals industry in Johannesburg earlier this year.

He noted that every country needs a high level of regulation for the pharmaceutical sector, which should govern the entire drug life cycle from research to production, distribution and consumption. 

He said regulators need to walk the talk and ensure the delivery of quality drugs, as well as protect the industry by ensuring the ease of doing business. He said counterfeiting is on the rise, particularly in emerging economies.

“The issue with counterfeit drugs is the danger. Developing nations are reaching levels of up to 60% of fake products in their inventory,” he said.

Fortunately, he said technology has  becoming an increasingly useful tool for the authorities to to tackle this scourge.

“This is a good time to discuss what we can do across the continent to get this under control,” he added.

–0– PANA CU/AR 6Sept2019