Issued by: Lowe Bell & Mann Communications
STATEMENT BY DR OLIVE SHISANA, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF HEALTH 25 AUGUST 1997
The Department of Health believes it is not contravening any existing international agreements with the new pharmacy legislation pending before Parliament. "If the pharmaceutical industry feels so strongly about the issue it is perfectly welcome to take its case to the World Trade Organisation or pursue any other avenue. We believe we are on solid legal grounds on this issue," says the Director General of Health, Dr Olive Shisana.
Referring to threats by the chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturer's Association (PMA), Ms Miyreena Deeb, that the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Bill amounts to "pure theft", Dr Shisana said she does not want to be drawn into a "war of words" over the issue of parallel importation. "We believe we are acting within the letter and spirit of existing international agreements and we have explained our position time and time again in our discussions with the pharmaceutical industry about parallel importation."
The Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Bill is intended to protect the public against the high cost of medicines. "We are committed to lower the cost of health care to all consumers in South Africa," says Shisana.
"We have a duty towards the public to make health care more affordable. High medicine prices have been identified as a primary cause of concern and the legislation pending before Parliament is addressing this," she says. The Bill will promote the greater usage of less expensive generic drugs and allow for the parallel importation of drugs under strictly controlled circumstances.
On accusations that the Bill will cause pharmaceutical companies to pull out resulting in heavy job losses, Dr Shisana says, it is not the intention of the Department to allow for the unbridled importation of drugs. Parallel importation will only be implemented once the minister has exhausted all other avenues of discussions and negotiations with the manufacturers on the price of a specific medicine.
"Our first duty is towards the consumer - whether he or she lives in Soshanguve or in Sandton; in Stanger of in Soekmekaar. The objectives of the Bill will eventually only be judged by our success in bringing down medical costs.
"We would hope that the pharmaceutical manufacturers share our concerns about the financial burdens placed on the consumers by high drug prices. We hope that they can come up with constructive proposals on how they can contribute to bring affordable health care within the reach of ordinary South Africans," Dr Shisana said.
Statement issued on behalf of: Dr Olive Shisana; Director General of Health By: Dries van Heerden: Tel 083 444 8665