News and Events - Media_Releases
Media Releases
The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) can confirm that after investigation, we have found no record of a “Nthabiseng Ramokolo” on the Register of pharmacists. The claimed credentials, i.e. Community Service Pharmacist, Junior Pharmacist, listed on the LinkedIn profile of “Nthabiseng Ramokolo” do not align with any information on our registers.
We will be pursuing a criminal case in terms of Section 29(1)(b) of the Pharmacy Act which in part speaks to the penalties for professing to be or practising as a pharmacist while unregistered with the SAPC.
The SAPC strongly discourages this behaviour and encourages members of the public to utilise the resources available on our website to search and verify registered pharmacists and pharmacies.
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD: Public Advisory
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: Health Department, Stakeholders commemorate September Pharmacy Month
02 September 2023
The Department of Health, working together with the South African Pharmacy Council, Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa and Independent Community Pharmacy Association will celebrate Pharmacy Awareness Month to in educate the public about the role of pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel in delivering primary healthcare services to the community.
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD: Joint Media Release
MEDIA STATEMENT: Expanded HIV and AIDS treatment now a reality
17 August 2023
The regulator of the pharmacy profession in the country, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), welcomes the decision of the High Court of South Africa in relation to the legality, rationality and necessity of Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (PIMART).
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD: Media Statement
MEDIA ADVISORY: The South African Pharmacy Council to brief the media on the outcome of the court case which sought to stop increased access to treatment for persons living with HIV and Aids
16 August 2023
The North Gauteng High Court ruled against an application by an association representing a small number of medical practitioners seeking to stop the implementation of Pharmacist-Initiated Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (PIMART), an intervention premised on improving access to HIV and Aids treatment and prevention medicines.
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD: Media Advisory
MEDIA RELEASE: September is Pharmacy Month: South African Pharmacy Council urges women and the youth to take advantage of primary health care and sexual reproductive health services available at pharmacies
22 September 2022
In light of rising HIV infections and the teenage pregnancy scourge (with 94 000 births to teenage mothers in 2020 alone[1], some of whom are as young as 14 years old), the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) calls upon the youth and women in our communities to take advantage of the services offered by Pharmacists and Pharmacist Assistants in order to lead healthier lives and prevent unintended pregnancies.
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD: Media Release | Pharmacy Month 2022 Posters & Pamphlets in 11 official languages
MEDIA RELEASE: September 2021 is Pharmacy Month: South African Pharmacy Council urges public to seek primary health care related needs from pharmacies instead of self-medicating or ignoring minor ailments
1 September 2021
September is National Pharmacy Month, a period of creating awareness on various health matters and how pharmacy professionals (pharmacists and pharmacy support personnel) as healthcare professionals can help enrich the health of communities. The 2021 Pharmacy Month theme is “Think Pharmacy”, the theme urges South Africans to think pharmacy first for their primary health care needs.
DOCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD: Media Release | Pharmacy Month 2021 Posters & Pamphlets in 11 official languages
JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT: Health regulatory bodies condemn looting and violence targeting health care facilities
19 July 2021
As South Africa’s statutory health regulatory bodies, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC), South African Nursing Council (SANC) and South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) together with the National Department of Health, we condemn the ongoing looting and violence, especially those acts targeting healthcare facilities and the medicines supply chain. We appeal to citizens looting and destroying the healthcare infrastructure and disrupting the provision of health care to consider the long-term consequences of their actions on the health of communities.
DOWNLOAD DOCUMENTS: MEDIA STATEMENT | SAPC FAQ Document for Patients and Pharmacy Professionals | SAHPRA FAQ Document
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MEDIA STATEMENT: South Africa Pharmacy Council distraught at the looting of pharmacies, destruction of health care services and livelihoods
14 July 2021
The regulator of pharmacy in South Africa, the South African Pharmacy Council, is both distraught and disappointed at the looting sprees that have targeted pharmacies, amongst other establishments, in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. As at Wednesday, 14 July 2021, we have received reports from pharmacists and pharmacy associations that, in both provinces, more than 90 pharmacies have been destroyed and looted beyond revival, with KwaZulu-Natal being the hardest hit. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD STATEMENT
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MEDIA RELEASE: Expert regulatory pharmacy executive, Mr Vincent Tlala, appointed Registrar/CEO of the South African Pharmacy Council
29 January 2021
The regulator of the pharmacy profession in South Africa, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), has appointed expert regulatory pharmacy executive and its outgoing Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr Vincent Mpoye Tlala, as its Registrar/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with effect from 1st February 2021. This follows the retirement of long-time Registrar/CEO, Mr Amos Masango, on 31 January 2021 and the confirmation of Mr Tlala’s appointment by the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE
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MEDIA RELEASE: South African Pharmacy Council pledges solidarity with pharmacy professionals in the COVID-19 frontline, announces a 0% annual fee adjustment for 2021
22 December 2020
In recognition of the selfless efforts by pharmacy professionals throughout the country in the fight against COVID-19 and in solidarity with the medicines experts in the multidisciplinary healthcare team, the regulator of the pharmacy profession, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) today announced that it has placed a moratorium on 2021 annual fee increases for all pharmacy professionals and facilities. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE
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MEDIA STATEMENT: South African Pharmacy Council discourages panic-fuelled bulk purchases of essential supplies and medicinal items amid the coronavirus outbreak
22 March 2020
The regulator of the pharmacy profession in South Africa, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), calls on members of the public to desist from purchasing unnecessarily large amounts of medicinal and other essential supplies such as hand sanitisers, face masks, and disinfectants, amongst others. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD STATEMENT
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MEDIA RELEASE: South African Pharmacy Council encourages citizens to seek help amid rising mental and behavioural disorder-related deaths
25 September 2019
Six (6) people die from mental and behavioural disorders every day, on average. At least one person loses their lives on a daily basis due to intentional self-harm. An analysis of causes of death data for South Africa for the eleven-year period 2006-2016 indicates that 20 398 lives were lost to mental and behavioural disorders, while a further 5 077 lives were lost to intentional self-harm over the same period (see attached info slides for further details). This sad reality should not be allowed to continue as mental illness can be treated.
It is against this backdrop that the South African Pharmacy Council, in partnership with the National Department of Health, Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa and Independent Community Pharmacists Association, has chosen as the theme for the 2019 Pharmacy Month as “Mental illness can be treated – Ask your pharmacist for advice”. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MEDIA RELEASE & INFO SLIDES