Minister meets pharmaceutical giants in London

Health Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala Msimang meets representatives from some of the world’s biggest multinational pharmaceutical companies in London tomorrow (THURS) and Friday as part of her pledge to consult them over the implementation of the Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act.

Implementation of the Act was delayed for three years after pharmaceutical companies challenged its legitimacy in court. However, last month the companies withdrew their court bid, and in return the minister promised to include them in discussions on how the Act would be implemented.

“We go with an open mind, keen to explore whether new options exist for us to move speedily forward together,” Tshabalala-Msimang told parliament yesterday (wed).

The minister said Government refused to view occasional offers of drug donations as a substitute for the promulgation of a law that would facilitate access to medicines on a sustainable basis.

She said “partnership” became a much more authentic option now that the Medicines Act was safe and the legitimacy of Government’s position publicly recognised.

The South African delegation, which includes the Director-General in the health department Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba and the minister’s legal advisor Adv Patricia Lambert, was expected also to meet with non-governmental organisations such as Oxfam and Action Southern Africa while in London.

The Health Department confirmed that Glaxo-SmithKline and Merck would attend the meeting with the pharmaceutical companies, while South Africa’s High Commission in London was awaiting confirmation from the other companies.  

South Africa’s High Commissioner in London, Cheryl Carolus was yesterday (wed) expected to brief members of the House of Commons on the outcome of the SA court case, intellectual property rights and the HIV/AIDS programme in South Africa.

Health department spokesperson Jo-Anne Collinge said the minister would meet leaders of the pharmaceutical companies’ South African subsidiaries at a later stage.

The minister’s trip to London follows closely on a trip to India, where government engaged with the local pharmaceutical industry.

Tshabalala-Msimang will move to Geneva later in the week to attend the 54th World Health Assembly next week, where further meetings will be held between the SA delegation, NGOs and other major health stakeholders, Collinge said.

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