Why pharmacists still can’t prescribe ARVs, despite court’s green light
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Despite a 2025 Supreme Court of Appeal ruling allowing pharmacists to prescribe antiretroviral (ARV) medication in South Africa, the program remains unimplemented. Bureaucratic delays and lack of permit issuance have prevented pharmacists from providing these essential HIV services.
Why it matters
The delay hinders efforts to expand access to HIV treatment and alleviate the burden on public healthcare clinics, impacting public health outcomes.
A Supreme Court of Appeal ruling in October 2025 cleared the way for specially trained and permitted pharmacists to dispense antiretroviral medicines without a doctor’s script. Seven months later, no pharmacists are providing these services yet. Spotlight explores the reasons for the delay.
The article focuses on the failure of government and regulatory bodies to implement a policy intended to improve public health access, which is a common critique in social-justice-oriented journalism.
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