Keeping up to date with legislation

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[dt_fancy_image type=”image” style=”2″ width=”280″ padding=”10″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”10″ margin_left=”0″ margin_right=”20″ align=”left” animation=”none” image=”https://archive.pharmaciae.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Legislation.jpg” image_alt=”Legal Update”]

The Pharmacy Act, 53 of 1974 provides that Council publish in the Government Gazette various issues for public comment or implementation. Legislation under the South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) (previously known as the Medicines Control Council), and the National Department of Health, is published in the Government Gazette. It is important that pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel, who may not always have access to, or know where to, obtain copies of the Government Gazettes, are kept up to date with legislation changes.

This edition of ePharmaciae sees the launch of Council’s new initiative to keep you informed of Board Notices and other healthcare legislation or policies relevant to the profession.

Board Notices published by Council

The following Board Notices were published on 6 June 2017 for implementation:

Board Notice 431/2017 – Rules relating to good pharmacy practice (GPP) amendment to Rule 2.7.5 – Minimum standards specifically relating to the collection and the delivery of medicines to patients from a community or institutional pharmacy. The amendment is published for implementation.
Board Notice 432/2017 – Rules relating to services for which a pharmacist may levy a fee and guidelines for levying such a fee. The Board Notice provides for the amended fees for the services for which a pharmacist may levy a fee. The Board Notice is applicable with immediate effect.
Board Notice 433/2017 – Fees payable to the Council: Application fee payable for the registration of a remote automated dispensing unit (public sector) and annual fees for remote automated dispensing units (public sector). The Board Notice is applicable with immediate effect.

Further note that the Board Notices are available for download from the SAPC Website under Notices: www.sapc.za.org/B_Legal_Legislation.asp

South African Health Products Authority

The President of South Africa signed Proclamation 20/2017 on 22 May 2017, published on 26 May 2017 that determined that the commencement date for the Medicines and Related Substances Amendment Acts (2008/2015) be 1 June 2017. This proclamation brings into effect the establishment of the South African Health Products Authority as the replacement for the Medicines Control Council.

National Department of Health

The Minister of Health published the National Health Insurance Policy on 30 June 2017. The document is available for download on the Department of Health’s website www.health.gov.za

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