South Africa’s continued failure to reform its patent laws is restricting access to affordable medicines. The consequences of slow patent reform are also placing further pressure on the public healthcare system.
More than 12 years have passed since the “PharmaGate” scandal became public. The scandal exposed an alleged campaign by the pharmaceutical industry to delay and weaken reforms to South Africa’s intellectual property laws.
The proposed reforms included safeguards to prevent unjustified monopolies on medicines. These protections could allow generic medicines to reach patients sooner.