As published by Ntombi Nkosi in the African Times
The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) says cancer medicines available in South Africa are safe and meet proper standards. This comes after a global study raised alarm about poor-quality cancer drugs found in several African countries.
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The study, published in The Lancet Global Health journal, found that some chemotherapy drugs in countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Cameroon were substandard. The drugs included cisplatin, oxaliplatin, methotrexate, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, and leucovorin.
SAHPRA says the study did not include South Africa and that the specific brands of the drugs mentioned in the study are not sold or registered in the country. The authority confirmed that none of the cancer medicines in South Africa were affected by the findings. It said all cancer drugs sold locally meet the required safety, quality, and effectiveness standards.
SAHPRA is responsible for ensuring that all medicines in the country are safe and work as intended. All drugs sold in South Africa must go through strict testing and approval processes before they can be made available to the public.
According to the regulator, every batch of medicine must be tested before it is released for sale. If the medicine is imported, it must also follow special post-import testing to make sure it meets South Africa’s health standards.
SAHPRA also does regular checks on medicines already available in the market. This includes testing high-risk drugs like those used for cancer to make sure they remain safe even after being approved.
SAHPRA’s CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela, said the public — especially cancer patients — can be assured that their treatment is safe and not affected by the problems found in other African countries.
“SAHPRA is committed to quality, safety, and efficacy. I am satisfied that our regulatory systems are working, and patients can trust the medicines they receive,” said Dr Semete-Makokotlela.
The study in The Lancet caused concern because it showed that 17% of the chemotherapy medicines tested in other African countries were not up to standard. Poor-quality cancer medicine can be dangerous. It may not treat the disease properly and can also cause serious side effects.
Substandard medicines can also lead to drug resistance and worsen health outcomes. Cancer patients need strong and effective medicine to fight the disease. If the medicine is too weak or contaminated, it can cause more harm than good.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in South Africa. The country sees over 110,000 new cancer cases each year. The most common cancers are breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer. More than 58,000 people in South Africa died from cancer-related illnesses in 2023.
With the rise in cancer cases, many people rely on the public health system for treatment. This includes access to life-saving chemotherapy drugs, radiation therapy, and surgery. The safety and quality of medicine is critical to treatment success.
SAHPRA’s statement is meant to calm fears and stop the spread of misinformation. It says there is no need for panic or concern, and that it is constantly monitoring medicine quality through a process called post-market surveillance.
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This means even after medicines are approved and available in hospitals or pharmacies, SAHPRA continues to do checks, take samples, and test them to make sure they still meet safety standards.
Health advocacy groups welcomed the announcement but called for continued transparency from the health regulator. They said cancer patients already face long waiting times and tough treatment journeys — they should not also have to worry about whether their medicine is fake or unsafe.
In recent years, South Africa has also had to deal with cases of counterfeit or illegal medicines entering the market. SAHPRA works with the police and other government bodies to stop illegal imports and remove unapproved products from circulation.
In 2024, several warehouses were raided in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal where unregistered medicines were found — some of which were falsely labelled as cancer treatments.
Authorities continue to warn people not to buy medicine from informal sellers, markets, or online platforms that are not regulated. Only medicine from licensed pharmacies and hospitals is guaranteed to be safe.
South Africa’s cancer drug safety is better than many countries in the region thanks to strong laws and enforcement. The Medicines and Related Substances Act ensures that all products are checked and controlled from production to sale.
For now, SAHPRA says it is confident that cancer patients in the country are receiving safe, effective, and properly regulated medication. The authority says it will continue its oversight and remain alert to any possible risks.
SAHPRA said patients who have questions or concerns about their medication are encouraged to speak to their doctor or pharmacist. SAHPRA has also reminded health workers and the public to report any unusual side effects or suspected problems with medicines.
South Africans battling cancer already face a difficult road. SAHPRA emphasised that they deserve to know that the medicine they rely on is doing what it’s supposed to do. SAHPRA says it is making sure of that every day.
This article has been published in partnership with the African Times.
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