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Mapisa-Nqakula appoints team to investigate illegally imported COVID-19 drugs

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Defence and Military Veterans Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, says she has appointed a team to investigate how medicine was illegally imported by her department.

The South African National Defense Force imported Interferon for the treatment of COVID-19 from Cuba last year but bypassed pharmaceutical procurement processes.

The drug was imported without permission from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. Top brass from the department appeared for a follow-up meeting before Parliament’s portfolio committee to provide further information on the matter.

Mapisa-Nqakula says a team will investigate to establish the facts. “The matter now at a point where fruitless expenditure appeal; let us please continue the process of engagement between SAHPRA and DOD I accept it was wrong for DOD to bring it in before engaged SAHPRA”

Mapisa-Nqakula added that the department will take action where needed.

“Obviously there has to be a consequence where procurement processes have fallen short of where non-compliance with procurement processes.”

 

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