South Africa: Health Department Sets Increase for Registered Medicines
[SAnews.gov.za] The Department of Health has announced a 2.88% increase to the Single Exit Price (SEP) of all registered medicines listed on the national database effective from 1 October 2026.
The South African Department of Health has announced a 2.88% increase to the Single Exit Price (SEP) of all registered medicines starting October 1, 2026. This decision comes as part of the government's response to exceptional domestic and geopolitical pressures impacting the pharmaceutical sector. The increase aims to alleviate manufacturers' cost pressures, ensure medicine supply remains stable, and keep prices affordable for patients and medical schemes.
The 2.88% adjustment applies to all medicines currently registered and listed in the national database as of September 30, 2026, including various pack sizes. This move is a result of extensive discussions between government officials and the pharmaceutical industry, which identified rising input costs, supply chain challenges, and geopolitical factors as significant risks to medicine availability.
By implementing this adjustment, the health department seeks to strike a balance between affordability and sustainable supply of medicines. The increased SEP represents a temporary relief measure for manufacturers grappling with cost pressures stemming from factors such as geopolitical tensions. It is important to note that the SEP is the maximum price at which manufacturers and importers can sell medicines to any buyer, including pharmacies, dispensing doctors, and hospitals, in the private sector.
The SEP framework aims to maintain affordability, predictability, and fairness in medicine costs while preventing price discrepancies among different buyers.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
