SA’s pharmaceutical sector is considering legal action demanding full disclosure from the National Department of Health following the recent hike of 1.47% in medicine prices for the private section. – Business Day (8 April 2026)
The sector includes the Pharmaceutical Task Group (PTG) representing organisations like IPASA and Generic and Biosimilar Medicines of Southern Africa.
The industry argues that the current medicine price increase is well below the national consumer inflation rate of 3.6% and doesn’t keep pace with sectoral salary increases, which average around 6%. The group has requested an additional 1.73 percentage point increase. This would bring the total increase for 2026 to 3.2%.
It also questions the methodology used by the Pricing Committee to calculate the annual single Exit Price (SEP) adjustment.
“Even the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) suggested a higher tariff guidance of 3.3% for 2026.”