By Charmaine Ndlela
An extraordinary 2.88% increase in the single exit price (SEP) of medicines and scheduled substances has been announced by the Health Department.
Adjustments come into effect from Thursday.
The increase applies to all registered medicines listed on the national database as at 30 September 2026, including all related pack sizes.
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The department said the second SEP adjustment for 2026 was necessary to respond to exceptional domestic and geopolitical pressures facing the pharmaceutical sector.
Spokesperson Foster Mohale said the adjustment followed sustained engagement between the government and the pharmaceutical industry over the rising costs of manufacturing and supplying medicines.
The latest increase is intended to provide manufacturers with temporary relief from cost pressures while ensuring that medicine supplies remain sustainable.
While consumers will pay more from Thursday, the actual rand increase will differ from one medicine to another.
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The single exit price is the regulated maximum price at which a pharmaceutical manufacturer or importer may sell a medicine in South Africa’s private sector. It applies to buyers including pharmacies, dispensing doctors and private hospitals.
It does not apply to medicines supplied through the state.
The 2.88% increase is the second SEP adjustment for 2026. The first one was 1.47%.
The department said the intervention was part of its efforts to balance the affordability of medicines for patients and medical schemes with the need to maintain a sustainable pharmaceutical supply chain.
