“SA’s staggering R41.3bn spent on prescription medications in 2024 underscores the prevalence of various health conditions affecting South Africans, from chronic diseases to mental health struggles.” – The Citizen (20 May 2025)
“While the top 20 medications accounted for R5.7bn of the total spend, the remaining pharmaceutical treatments made up a substantial R35.6bn, indicating a broad spectrum of health needs within the population.
An estimated R3.4bn is spent on diabetic or weight loss medication, with R636m spent on the popular drug Ozempic alone accounting (over 50% of South Africans are classified as overweight or obese).
According to Discovery Health payouts for mental health related issues increased by 224% over a decade. (a government study found that 16% of the population suffered from mental health issues.