Business confidence falls in January

Business confidence fell to its lowest level since May 2010, the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SACCI) said. 9 Feb 2012 09:33

dti moots small business census

The Department of Trade and Industry wants to run a regular small business census to help improve its support and funding to the sector as part of a revised policy to boost support to small businesses. 9 Feb 2012 09:09

Gauteng govt 'committed to correct spending of public funds'

The Gauteng Provincial Government says it has put in place measures to ensure the correct spending of public monies. "We are committed to a clean audit. We are committed to spending resources in a manner we can account for," Gauteng Premier Nomvula Mokonyane said yesterday, 23 January 2012. 24 Jan 2012 10:17

Court ruling may spell end of generic giant's product

Aspen registered its Andosept trademark in 2005 and launched a pharyngeal product under that name in 2008, in direct competition with the market-leading product Andolex. The Andosept product was placed on pharmacy shelves in packaging similar to that used for Andolex. 12 Jan 2012 12:40

Gauteng pays R300m more to health suppliers

The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development paid almost R300 million to health contractors and suppliers in December. This is in addition to the R600 million that had been paid to vendors earlier in that month, reports the Gauteng Provincial Government. 10 Jan 2012 10:23

No bonuses for Adcock Ingram staff

[Edward West] Adcock Ingram management and staff eligible for the executive incentive bonus scheme received no bonus this month as the group had failed to meet the internal targets set, the pharmaceutical group's annual report released on Friday showed. 4 Jan 2012 12:45

Litha Healthcare Group acquires OTC Pharma South Africa

Litha Healthcare Group has purchased the South African subsidiary of Dutch health and wellness company, OTC Pharma International, OTC Pharma South Africa, which will see the healthcare group increase its portfolio in the natural health market. 19 Dec 2011 08:18

South African firm signs agreement with leading Indian pharmaceutical group

An agreement undertaken by Litha Pharma, a subsidiary of the Litha Healthcare Group and Gland Pharma, a leading Indian based generic pharmaceutical manufacturer, will see the healthcare group expanding its presence in the injectable generics market. 14 Dec 2011 10:35

Gauteng Health Department commits to paying suppliers

The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development has noted a statement issued earlier this week by SAMED stating that it owes huge amounts of money to suppliers and has in turn acknowledged that it does carry these debts. 25 Nov 2011 13:26

Adcock still awaiting response from DoH on DPP issue

[Ray Faure] Pharmaceutical group Adcock Ingram has had no response yet to its request to the Department of Health to expedite its appeal committee process of the Medicines Control Council into the review of products containing the analgesic Dextropropoxyphene (DPP), the group's CEO Dr Jonathan Louw, confirmed on Tuesday. 25 Nov 2011 12:59

The great pharma patent debate

[Dr Joanne Van Harmelen] In recent news, the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) has called on government to revise the Patents Act to reduce the patent protection available to pharmaceutical inventions, which the organisation believes is responsible for the high cost of medicines and a delay in the availability of generic medicines. 23 Nov 2011 16:06

South African's overcharged for medicines

South African consumers are paying more for their medicine than they could be, says Paul Anley, CEO of Pharma Dynamics. He was speaking at the annual International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) conference that took place in Cape Town this month. 17 Nov 2011 16:24

PMBs here to stay, court rules

Legalbrief reports that the North Gauteng High Court has thrown out, on technical grounds, a bid to clarify what medical aid funds are required to pay for the treatment of a basic set of conditions, ranging from tuberculosis to malaria. 11 Nov 2011 10:06

EirGen Pharma, Equity Pharmaceuticals sign major partnership agreement

Irish company EirGen Pharma today, 9 November, announced a significant partnership agreement with South African pharmaceuticals company, Equity Pharmaceuticals, to develop and commercially supply five oncology products from its facility in Waterford, Ireland. EirGen is a speciality pharmaceutical company focusing on the development and supply of niche highly potent drugs typically used in cancer treatment. 9 Nov 2011 18:00