Pharmaceutical giant recalls painkiller, Excedrin in SA

[Nashira Davids] Pharmaceutical giant Novartis has, as a precautionary measure, recalled the painkiller Excedrin in South Africa. 27 Jan 2012 17:18

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

Skin care market in Africa, Middle East to grow

[Zeenat Moorad] With opportunities in developed markets slowly drying up, international players in the skin care market are likely to make moves to increase their share of sales in Africa and the Middle East where growth forecasts are strong, a research report has predicted. 5 Jan 2012 12:18

'Axing' time for ASA?

Industry bodies are withdrawing levies and the CPA is putting added pressure on the industry... and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is facing a funding crisis that could cripple its activities. Acts that are relevant to the ASA include, but are not restricted to: health, gambling,communciations, liquor, roads, and even lotteries. 28 Dec 2011 11:36

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

New face of drug dependence: spotting and dealing with opioid addiction

Despite public perceptions that prescription drugs are in some way different to and less dangerous to use than illicit narcotics, the fact is that during 2007, overdoses of opioids (synthetic versions of opium i.e. codeine-like medication) caused more deaths in the USA* than heroin and cocaine combined. Costs of prescription opioid abuse represent a substantial and growing economic burden for society and the workplace. So what are the signs of opioid dependence - and how can it be tackled in order to treat the condition and transform the life of the person concerned, to the benefit of both employer and employee? 2 Dec 2011 15:59

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

Pharmacists - more than people in white coats

[Jared Paiva] Before I began to be involved in the healthcare industry, I believed that a pharmacy was just a place to pick up my medication. I also saw the pharmacist as a person who just asked me a whole bunch of questions, walked to the shelf, and gave my medicine. Well having been in the industry now for six months, that opinion changed very quickly. 21 Nov 2011 06:30

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

Class of breast cancer drugs could treat other types of cancer

A class of drugs used to treat breast cancers which overproduce a protein called HER2 could also treat other types of cancer - particularly head and neck cancers, according to research presented at the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI) Cancer Conference in Liverpool this week. 11 Nov 2011 08:43