THE SA National Defence Force (SANDF) on Wednesday confirmed that it has returned 500,000 vials of the Heberon interferon alpha-2B Covid-19 drug to Cuba.
SANDF chief Gen Rudzani Maphwanya told parliament’s portfolio committee on defence and military veterans that the defence force was instructed to either return the medicine or have it destroyed as it was due to expire.
“The SANDF has complied and sent the medicine back to Cuba. We are writing to Sahpra and the auditor-general as the interested parties that we felt we should be re-engaged after we complied,” said Maphwanya.
In December, Sahpra gave military bosses an ultimatum to provide evidence that the drug had been shipped back to Cuba or face having it destroyed.
In April last year, the SANDF spent nearly more than R200 million to import Heberon Alpha R 2B, manufactured by a Cuban-Chinese company.
Interferons are proteins used in the body as part of its natural defence against viruses. There is, however, no scientific proof that the drug is effective in treating Covid-19 and it is not approved or registered for use in South Africa.
The Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans on Wednesday deferred the discussion on the matter related to the importation and use of the Cuban immune booster, Heberon®️ Alpha R 2B Human Recombinant Alpha 2B Interferon, to allow the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans and relevant stakeholders to scrutinise and interact with the report.
The committee Chairperson, Mr Cyril Xaba, said he will approach the Minister to release the report to all relevant parties, including the committee, South African Health Products Regulatory Authority and the Auditor-General in order for them to study it and be better prepared to interact with the Department of Defence.
Xaba said: “Members of the committee agreed to defer the full discussion on the matter until the Minister, who is indisposed, is able to attend the committee meeting and gives permission for the report to be shared with members and stakeholders.”
He said the committee heard that the consignment of Interferon has been returned to Cuba. The committee will communicate a new date and time for the rescheduled meeting.
