The Special Investigating Unit will probe allegations of maladministration at the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), Fin24 reports President Cyril Ramaphosa's gazetted proclamation, signed on 4 October 2019, says.
The health products regulator oversees the regulation of medicines, medical devices, in-vitro diagnostic tests and devices, radiation emitting products and devices used in the health care and industry. It replaced the former Medicines Control Council and the Directorate of Radiation Control.
The matters for investigation date back to January 2015, the report says. The investigation will also cover whether certain sections of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act were contravened.
According to SAHPRA, in February 2019 it had received reports of alleged fraudulent activity implicating "a small sector of the authority and an external stakeholder," the statement read. SAHPRA’s acting CEO, the board and the Health Minister had reported the allegations to the SIU.
SAHPRA did not name the those involved or give details on the fraudulent activities.
[link url="https://www.fin24.com/Economy/South-Africa/ramaphosa-orders-probe-into-medicine-regulator-amid-serious-corruption-concerns-20191021?src=ilaw"]Fin24 report[/link]