The absence of regulations controlling the manufacture and distribution of medical products was endangering the lives of South Africans, the Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Monday.
Briefing the media in Cape Town, DA spokesperson on health Gareth Morgan blamed Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang for holding back legislation to protect consumers from bogus medical products.
”Draft regulations to provide for such a system under the Medicines Act were published in July 2004, almost three years ago, but nothing has been seen since.
”It is apparent that there is a lack of political will on the part of the minister to proceed with the introduction of these regulations,” he said.
Morgan attributed Tshabalala-Msimang’s lack of interest to her obsession with alternative medicines.
”One can only speculate that this reluctance stems from the minister’s open support for alternative treatments and her public encouragement of purveyors of supposed miracle cures, including Mathias Rath and Zebelon Gwala,” he said.
A traditional HIV/Aids medicine, Ubhejane, sold by Gwala, had been found not to have any effect on the virus.
”Despite preliminary testing having shown that this product is of not particular benefit in fighting Aids, its manufacturer continues to fund luxury cars and a expensive lifestyle on sales of this product,” he said.
Calling for the complete overhaul of the Medicines Control Council (MCC), Morgan said the council was both inefficient and subject to political pressure.
In 2006, the council was widely condemned for turning a blind eye to the activities of the Mathias Rath Foundation, he said.
The Health Ministry on Monday refuted the DA’s claims that Tshabalala-Msimang was supporting the manufacturing and distribution of untested medicines.
The minister’s spokesperson, Sibani Mngadi, said while Tshabalala-Msimang promoted the research and development of traditional medicines, she did not condone the sale of untested medication.
”It is important to put on record that the Health Ministry does not support any alternative product [or practitioner] as suggested in the DA statement.
”The ministry recognises the historical role of traditional medicine [and] … is promoting research and development of traditional medicine … we are making efforts to ensure that this practice is properly regulated,” he said in a statement.
He cited the Traditional Health Practitioner’s Bill, currently with Parliament, as evidence that the ministry was doing something to formalise the practice.
Describing the DA’s attack on the MCC as ”opportunistic”, Mngadi said it did not make sense for Morgan to call for the restructuring of the council when he knew that the process was already under way.
”It is disturbing that the DA has chosen to act in a politically opportunistic manner … regarding the Medicine Control Council MCC) — the MCC is scheduled to brief the parliamentary portfolio committee on a variety of issues relating to the council on Tuesday June 26.
”Unfortunately, Mr Morgan’s statement seeks to undercut the initiative of the portfolio committee to engage with the MCC and draw some media credit to the DA,” he said, adding that a task team dealing with the restructuring of the council had already begun its work. — Sapa