New pricing regulations

It is with great relief that we read the following statement by The Pharmacy Stakeholders Forum (PSF):

It is with relief that we can announce that the dispensing fee published on 1 December 2006 will not come into operation on 1 January 2007.

Following an application challenging the dispensing fee brought by the applicants (Pharmaceutical Society of SA, South African Progressive Pharmacists’ Association and United South African Pharmacies) the Department of Health agreed to suspend the implementation of the dispensing fee. This agreement was formalised by an order issued by the High Court of South Africa (Transvaal provincial division). This order specifies that the dispensing fee will not come into operation on 1 January 2007, pending the outcome of the challenge to the dispensing fee regulations.

The Pharmacy Stakeholders Forum (PSF) thanks the Minister and the Department of Health for this relief and the PSF would like to recommit itself to finding a resolution to this matter as soon as possible. It would be welcomed if such a resolution can be found outside of the legal process.

The PSF would like to ensure the public that there is no reason to believe that pharmacists, who are members of an ethical profession, will seek to exploit the situation by charging excessive dispensing fees.