The Minister of Health has determined, in terms of regulation 8(1) of the Regulations Relating to a Transparent Pricing System For Medicines and Scheduled Substances published in Government Gazette Number 28214 of 11 November 2005, that the single exit price as defined in the said Regulations, may be increased by no later than 01 July 2007 up to a maximum amount of 5.2% of the ex manufacturer price that prevailed at 01 October 2006.
An increase in the single exit price in terms of this Notice may only be taken by the manufacturer or importer of the relevant medicine or scheduled substance 30 days after the date that manufacturer or importer has communicated the information required by the Director-General in terms of the Notice published by him under regulation 21 of the Regulations Relating to a Transparent Pricing System for Medicines and Scheduled Substances.
The notice regarding the annual price increase has not been published in the gazette. Until the Minister publishes a notice in the gazette there is no official Ministerial determination of the increase and it is therefore unlawful for pharmaceutical manufacturers to take an increase. After the publication of the gazette manufacturers may then submit the necessary information to the Department of Health. The Department will publish a list of products that have increased, after checking the correctness of the new price increase.