Pretoria: The Department of Health's National Essential Medicines List Committee (NEMLC) has approved the addition of the recently registered injectable lenacapavir to the Essential Medicines List (EML). The department emphasized that this decision aligns with its mandate to ensure access to safe, effective, high-quality, and affordable medicines for all citizens in the public sector. According to South African Government News Agency, the inclusion of treatments like lenacapavir on the EML is crucial for promoting the production of generic medicines, which can improve their availability and affordability, especially in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. The NEMLC, a non-statutory committee appointed by the Minister of Health, was established under the National Drug Policy to develop and review an EML for public sector use, along with standard treatment guidelines for primary, secondary, and tertiary care. The department believes that lenacapavir can effectively address significant gaps i n existing HIV prevention methods. Last month, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) announced the registration of lenacapavir, marking South Africa as the first country on the continent to approve the twice-a-year anti-HIV injection. This followed an application by Gilead, a U.S.-based biopharmaceutical company, to SAHPRA, the local drug regulatory authority. South Africa aims to launch lenacapavir, a long-acting HIV prevention method, by March 2026. The department noted that the EML is a vital public health policy tool and a guide for countries aiming to achieve universal health coverage. It ensures access to carefully selected and cost-effective medicines that meet priority healthcare needs, maintain quality, and remain affordable. The department views access to affordable essential medicines as a critical component of an efficient healthcare system. In a resource-constrained environment with a high burden of disease, the value of the Standard Treatment Guidelines and EML in ens uring affordable and equitable access to medicines is significant.
