By Thobile Jiwulane
The pharmaceutical sector is prepared to work with the state in South Africa to make the National Health insurance function by participating in various collaborative efforts that would not only benefit them but also South Africa as a whole.
This was made clear by Innovative Pharmaceutical Association South Africa (IPASA) CEO Bada Pharasi in his input during a multi-stakeholder Roundtable organised by IPASA in conjunction with the European Union Chamber of Commerce. Attendees at the Roundtable, including IPASA identified key priorities it believed would help to improve patient access to innovative medicines towards the implementation of the NHI.
Besides IPASA and EU Chamber’s members, other representatives who attended the Roundtable at high levels of top leadership came from the National Department of Health, National Treasury, Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, Government Employees Medical Scheme, and Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa. It was also attended by the Patience Advocacy Group and the Belgian Chamber with the first session facilitated by Business Unity South Africa’s CEO, Khulekani Mathe.
Pharasi said their intention was to collaborate with the Department of Health and the Pricing Committee to promote the notion of a flexible pricing system for innovator medicines, thus ensuring increased access to the latest innovator medicines. “We will also strive to work with the medicines regulator, SAHPRA, to ensure the implementation of regulatory reliance,” he said.
The Roundtable, seen as one of many such platforms to come on the NHI, saw different stakeholders discussing ways to improve access to the NHI. They came to an understanding that it is important that people should access the insurance and for different players to co-operate for their own benefit.
While some in the private sector completely dismissed NHI as a ploy to sideline the sector out of the healthcare system in South Africa, many healthcare providers have a different view, saying there is a need for collaboration in various ways within the NHI in order to make the system work. They identified different opportunities of co-operation and collaboration with the new system being introduced by the National Department of Health, including on the side of medicine provision and access.
IPASA’s Pharasi mentioned two key priorities the Association believed would help to improve patient access to innovative medicines towards the implementation of the NHI. Among others, he identified collaboration between the pharma industry, regulators and patient advocacy groups and partnerships to improve access to innovative medicine.
IPASA emphasised the significance of this partnership, saying it is a key component in developing innovative medicine to benefit the patients. Pharasi said that incorporating patients’ perspectives and insights into the medicine’s development process is increasingly being recognised and accepted by all stakeholders as an important part of the process of developing innovative medicines that better address patients’ unmet needs and priorities. “As the innovator pharmaceutical industry, we strive to work with the government, the regulator and patient advocacy groups towards this objective,” he said.
On the partnerships to improve access to innovative medicines he said access to innovator medicines in South Africa is a challenge. “We believe it imperative that people are not denied life-saving medicines for economic and/or social reasons,” Pharasi said. He said the need for safe and effective medicines is also recognised as a basic human right by the World Health Organisation and by Section 27 (1)(a) of the South African Constitution.
IPASA’s intention was to work with the Department of Health and the Pricing Committee to promote the notion of a flexible pricing system for innovator medicines, thus ensuring increased access to the latest innovator medicines.
“We will also strive to work with the medicines’ regulator, SAHPRA, to ensure the implementation of regulatory compliance. This is the basis of processes by which a regulatory authority in one jurisdiction considers evaluations performed by another while remaining responsible and accountable for the decisions it takes. It enables regulatory approvals and allows the regulators to use resources in a more efficient way. Ultimately, it serves patients by facilitating earlier access to quality-assured, safe, and effective medicines.
“Finally, as our country plays host to the historic G20, we look forward to working with NDoH, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition in truly innovating and collaborating in the area of Pandemic Prevention and Preparedness. I look forward to further engagement on how the innovative pharmaceutical can truly partner with the various government departments and civil society in the quest for a better life for all,” Pharasi said.
The National Department of Health deputy director general for health regulation and compliance, Dr Anban Pillay and National Treasury’s chief director for health and social development, Dr Mark Blecher, concurred about the need for collaboration in the NHI rollout process. Dr Pillay said instead of staying away and complaining, even the private sector should come and identify opportunities for cooperation. Blecher said there were many opportunities in the process, as the government would not lock anybody out. He said the bottom line was that there was a need for collaboration to ensure access to healthcare for all. @NewsSA_Online