Call for South African govt to ensure affordable medicines for all

South Africa’s National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) has reiterated its position, that the adoption of the National Policy on Intellectual Property is critical in reducing the price of medicines and in improving medication access for the vulnerable in the country’s society.

In a press statement, the NEHAWU said that the latest New Age report that shows that India sells medication at the sixth of a price in South Africa, attests to our assertion that pharmaceutical companies in the country are involved in price gouging.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies, and the Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, must ensure that the Draft National Policy on Intellectual Property is adopted, so that the exploitation and commodification of sickness by multinational companies is brought to an end.