There is widespread support for drastic change to patent laws when it comes to pharmaceuticals, but the results could be disastrous.
The country is fighting the intellectual property laws that hiked up the cost of its HIV programme.
Some have lauded the draft policy, saying it could make medication cheaper, but others say it is "unimpressive" and "almost contradictory".
Many drugs cost far more in South Africa than in countries with strict patent-vetting processes.
A ruling this week that allowed an Indian drugmaker to make and sell a cancer drug at a fraction of the price has been hailed as a breakthrough.
