Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022
Abstract Background Various regulatory authorities are experiencing backlogs of applications which result in delayed access to medicines for patients. The objective of this study is to critically assess the registration process utilised by SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 and determine the fundamental r...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00537-0 |
| _version_ | 1797368149910224896 |
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| author | Lerato Moeti Madira Litedu Jacques Joubert |
| author_facet | Lerato Moeti Madira Litedu Jacques Joubert |
| author_sort | Lerato Moeti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Various regulatory authorities are experiencing backlogs of applications which result in delayed access to medicines for patients. The objective of this study is to critically assess the registration process utilised by SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 and determine the fundamental root causes for the formation of a backlog. The study also aims to detail the remedial actions that were undertaken which resulted in the development of a new review pathway termed the risk-based assessment approach for regulatory authorities experiencing backlogs to implement. Methods A sample of 325 applications was used to evaluate the end-to-end registration process employed for the Medicine Control Council (MCC) process between 2011 and 2017; 129 applications were used for the backlog clearance project (BCP) between 2019 and 2022; 63 and 156 applications were used for the risk-based assessment (RBA) pilot studies in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The three processes are compared, and the timelines are discussed in detail. Results The longest median value of 2092 calendar days was obtained for the approval times between 2011 and 2017 using the MCC process. Continuous process optimisation and refinement are crucial to prevent recurring backlogs and hence implementation of the RBA process. Implementation of the RBA process resulted in a shorter median approval time of 511 calendar days. The finalisation timeline by the Pharmaceutical and Analytical (P&A) pre-registration Unit, which conducts the majority of the evaluations, is used as a tool for the direct comparison of the processes. The finalisation timeline for the MCC process was a median value of 1470 calendar days, the BCP was 501 calendar days and the RBA process phases 1 and 2 were 68 and 73 calendar days, respectively. The median values of the various stages of the end-to-end registration processes are also analysed in order to build efficiency within the process. Conclusions The observations from the study have identified the RBA process which can be implemented to reduce regulatory assessment times while assuring the timeous approval of safe and effective, quality medicines. The continuous monitoring of a process remains one of the critical tools required to ensure the effectiveness of a registration process. The RBA process also becomes a better alternative for generic applications that do not qualify to undergo the reliance approach due to its drawbacks. This robust procedure can therefore be utilised by other regulatory agencies that may have a backlog or want to optimise their registration process. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:28:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2d287ef6222e4866b8fdef3b92e488bd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2052-3211 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:28:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-2d287ef6222e4866b8fdef3b92e488bd2024-01-02T17:11:19ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice2052-32112023-03-0116111310.1186/s40545-023-00537-0Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022Lerato Moeti0Madira Litedu1Jacques Joubert2South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)School of Pharmacy, University of the Western CapeAbstract Background Various regulatory authorities are experiencing backlogs of applications which result in delayed access to medicines for patients. The objective of this study is to critically assess the registration process utilised by SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 and determine the fundamental root causes for the formation of a backlog. The study also aims to detail the remedial actions that were undertaken which resulted in the development of a new review pathway termed the risk-based assessment approach for regulatory authorities experiencing backlogs to implement. Methods A sample of 325 applications was used to evaluate the end-to-end registration process employed for the Medicine Control Council (MCC) process between 2011 and 2017; 129 applications were used for the backlog clearance project (BCP) between 2019 and 2022; 63 and 156 applications were used for the risk-based assessment (RBA) pilot studies in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The three processes are compared, and the timelines are discussed in detail. Results The longest median value of 2092 calendar days was obtained for the approval times between 2011 and 2017 using the MCC process. Continuous process optimisation and refinement are crucial to prevent recurring backlogs and hence implementation of the RBA process. Implementation of the RBA process resulted in a shorter median approval time of 511 calendar days. The finalisation timeline by the Pharmaceutical and Analytical (P&A) pre-registration Unit, which conducts the majority of the evaluations, is used as a tool for the direct comparison of the processes. The finalisation timeline for the MCC process was a median value of 1470 calendar days, the BCP was 501 calendar days and the RBA process phases 1 and 2 were 68 and 73 calendar days, respectively. The median values of the various stages of the end-to-end registration processes are also analysed in order to build efficiency within the process. Conclusions The observations from the study have identified the RBA process which can be implemented to reduce regulatory assessment times while assuring the timeous approval of safe and effective, quality medicines. The continuous monitoring of a process remains one of the critical tools required to ensure the effectiveness of a registration process. The RBA process also becomes a better alternative for generic applications that do not qualify to undergo the reliance approach due to its drawbacks. This robust procedure can therefore be utilised by other regulatory agencies that may have a backlog or want to optimise their registration process.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00537-0South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA)RegistrationRegulatory performanceGeneric productsBacklogFinalisation |
| spellingShingle | Lerato Moeti Madira Litedu Jacques Joubert Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Registration Regulatory performance Generic products Backlog Finalisation |
| title | Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 |
| title_full | Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 |
| title_fullStr | Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 |
| title_short | Regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in South Africa: Assessment of the performance of SAHPRA between 2011 and 2022 |
| title_sort | regulatory registration timelines of generic medicines in south africa assessment of the performance of sahpra between 2011 and 2022 |
| topic | South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) Registration Regulatory performance Generic products Backlog Finalisation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40545-023-00537-0 |
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