Author: Njih Favour

13 Jun The Impact of Pharmacovigilance on Public Safety: A SAHPRA Mandate Posted at 14:59h in News & Updates by Melanie Govindasamy A Thought Leadership Article Introduction Pharmacovigilance is the science and activities relating to the detection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects or any other medicine-related problems, which play a crucial role in ensuring public safety. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is at the forefront of pharmacovigilance efforts in South Africa, working tirelessly to safeguard public health. SAHPRA’s Mandate and Role in Pharmacovigilance SAHPRA’s mandate is to regulate all health products, including medicines, medical devices,…

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is raising the alarm over a surge in fraudulent service providers posing as SAHPRA-accredited.  The watchdog says it has learned about a troubling trend of individuals and businesses using falsified licences to deceive the public and carry out unregulated operations, putting lives at risk. The warning comes amid the booming popularity of cannabis-infused products in South Africa, from beverages and snacks to baked goods. However, the lack of proper regulation, safety testing, and transparent labelling has sparked concern. SAHPRA CEO Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela says in a statement that the rapid spread of…

Body Mass Index is widely used to assess if a person falls within a healthy weight range. (Photo: Steve Buissinne/Pixabay) News & Features 11th June 2025 | Jesse Copelyn Health workers have long relied on Body Mass Index as a way to measure whether people are within a healthy weight range. Now, a collection of top researchers have made the case for a new way to understand and diagnose obesity. In part two of this special Spotlight series, we take a look at what this new framing might mean for South Africa.      If we are going to tackle…

11 Jun  SAHPRA alerts the public about fake licence holders Pretoria, 11 June 2025—The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) is warning the public to be vigilant and cautious when engaging with service providers who claim to be licensed by SAHPRA. SAHPRA has learned that individuals and companies are operating unethically by presenting falsified SAHPRA licences to gain public trust and conduct business.  SAHPRA stresses that the use of fake licences is not only unlawful but also poses serious risks to public health and safety. Members of the public are urged to verify the authenticity of any SAHPRA-issued licence…

The Gauteng health department has come under criticism for its deplorable human resources management, which has incentivised employees to exaggerate their leave days. These concerns were raised during a meeting on the Policy and Procedure for Incapacity Leave and Ill Health Retirement attended by the CEOs and HR managers of various divisions in the department earlier this month. The meeting examined the number of staff members who have exhausted their 36 days of sick leave over the three-year cycle, during which they are entitled to 12 days a year, and those who are subsequently placed on unpaid leave once their…

Of the eight million people living with HIV in South Africa, around 6.2 million were taking antiretroviral treatment in 2024. (Photo: Shutterstock) News & Features 9th June 2025 | Marcus Low Eight million people living with HIV. Just over 6 million on treatment. Behind these big numbers lurk a universe of fascinating epidemiological dynamics. In this special briefing, Spotlight editor Marcus Low unpacks what we know about the state of HIV in South Africa. Four decades ago hardly anyone in South Africa had HIV. Today, roughly one in eight people here are living with the virus. HIV has quite simply…

South African expert Professor Helen Rees was one of six global public health champions celebrated at the recent World Health Assembly.  Rees was named the recipient of the prestigious Dr Lee Jong-wook Memorial Prize in recognition of her contributions to global health.   Health-e News spoke with Rees about the significance of receiving a lifetime achievement award, key milestones in her career, and the challenges of cuts to internal funding for health programmes.  Subscribe to our newsletter What does receiving this prize mean to you?  Dr Lee Jong-wook was a former Director-General of the World Health Organization who died in office,…

06 Jun Warfarin and Tramadol – Harmful Drug-Drug Interaction Posted at 11:39h in Safety Alerts 1 by Ntokozo Msiza The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) would like to inform healthcare professionals about the risk of a drug-drug interaction (DDI) associated with concomitant use of warfarin and tramadol. Taking these two medicines simultaneously can lead to an increase in the International Normalised Ratio (INR), and result in severe ecchymosis and bleeding, which may lead to death. Although the mechanism has not been elucidated, occasional reports of elevated INR, ecchymosis and/or bleeding have been identified in patients taking warfarin after…

by Florence de Vries, Head of Marketing and Communication at Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences  In the heart of hospitals, wards and clinics across the world, the people we turn to for healing are often quietly battling wounds of their own.  Doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other healthcare workers are disproportionately affected by depression, anxiety, and burnout – a reality that, despite its prevalence, is too rarely spoken about.  A 2025 study at a South African university found that many medical students are experiencing serious mental health challenges, with worrying levels of anxiety and depression. Results…

The Department of Social Development in Gauteng is at loggerheads with non-profit organisations working to prevent unsafe baby abandonment. The department has branded “baby savers” illegal and is threatening to close down and remove children from organisations that have baby savers.  Baby savers or boxes are specially designed structures – usually built into the outside wall of an organisation – that trigger an alarm once a baby has been placed inside, allowing for the infant to be retrieved and taken to a place of safety. The baby savers are meant to be alternatives to the widely reported unsafe abandonment of babies in…