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Advocacy is an activity by an individual or group which aims to influence decisions within political, economic, and social systems and institutions.
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South Africa’s Cancer stories
Two SA women, two very different diagnoses and treatment journeys South Africa’s beloved, world-renowned rugby referee Aimee Barrett-Theron was diagnosed with breast cancer just days before her 39th birthday in June 2026. Initially, she did not panic after discovering a lump in her breast, as she...
PABS Letter to Presidency_11 March
Honourable President Ramaphosa, We write out of deep concern about the final round of negotiations for the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system taking place 23-28 March 2026 at the World Health Organisation. The PABS system will be formalised as an annex to the WHO Pandemic Agreement...
Public Voices Rise
The Cancer Alliance represented by SECTION27 returned to court today in the matter of Cancer Alliance v the MEC for Health, Gauteng and 10 others. Today’s proceedings concerned an application...
Celgene Flagged
For overpricing bone marrow cancer drug The Competition Commission has referred for prosecution to the Competition Tribunal (“Tribunal”), international drug manufacturer Celgene Corporation (“Celgene Corp”) and its subsidiary Celgene Logistics S.a.r.l (“Celgene Logistics”) (collectively,...
Cancer Alliance Tackles Price Gouging
Represented by SECTION27, takes on multinational company Cancer Alliance tackles price gouging 14 November 2024, Johannesburg - The Cancer Alliance, represented by SECTION27, has been admitted by the Competition Tribunal as an intervening party in the excessive pricing case initiated by the...
Lenalidomide Price Case Progress
Access to Medicine: Lenalidomide Cancer Alliance submitted a case for the investigation of excessive pricing for lenalidomide to the South African Competition Commission in January 2023. The CompCom confirmed their intention to investigate this case in February 2023. Appendix A, 2024-02-06, Tbls...
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MAVERICK CITIZEN: HEALTH Dying for Treatment: The struggle for affordable breast cancer medicines in South Africa
Across the world, October is marked as breast cancer month. It is an opportunity to create awareness, educate people and provide support for breast cancer survivors and those close to them. In South Africa, more than 10 dedicated breast cancer...
Cancer Alliance publishes the first
fact sheet on biosimilars in South Africa
Biosimilars are pharmaceutical products that are almost identical copies of existing medicines. Cancer Alliance publishes the first fact sheet on biosimilars in South Africa. The approval and availability of biosimilars will influence access and...
SANCDA LETTER AND REPORT TO MINISTER OF HEALTH
Letter and Report to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, from the South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Please download and read the following two important documents: Letter to the new Minister of Health requesting urgent...
SUE JOHNSON SPEAKS ABOUT MULTIPLE MYELOMA AND LENALIDOMIDE
Sue Johnson and Lenalidomide Sue Johnson was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and with Multiple Myeloma in 2014. While she was initially able to access a generic lenalidomide treatment from India on a Section 21 authorisation from the Medicines...
MOTIVATION FOR: PROMPT APPROVAL OF TRASTUZUMAB BIOSIMILARS TO PROMOTE COMPETITION IN THE MARKET
17 July 2019: Cancer Alliance submits a motivation to SAHPRA for the prompt approval of trastuzumab biosimilars to promote competition in the market. The Cancer Alliance of South Africa submits this memorandum in support of its request that SAHPRA...
LAUNCHING THE CAMPAIGN FOR ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE LENALIDOMIDE
Minister Mkhize must ensure access to cancer medicine that WHO now considers “essential” Johannesburg (9 July 2019) — It was announced today that lenalidomide, a lifesaving medicine to treat multiple myeloma, has been included on the latest edition...
SANCDA LETTER AND REPORT TO MINISTER OF HEALTH – JUNE 2019
Letter and Report to the Minister of Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize, from the South African Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance Please download and read the following two important documents: Letter to the new Minister of Health requesting urgent...
CANCER ALLIANCE PUBLISHES SECTION 4 OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT ON THE NEW BREAST CANCER POLICY: TREATMENT & PALLIATIVE CARE
Breast Cancer Control Policy 2017 25th February 2019 The Cancer Alliance today publishes the fourth and final part of its series on the Breast Cancer Control Policy with Section 4: Treatment & Palliative Care South Africa’s new Breast Cancer...
CANCER ALLIANCE CALLS FOR AFFORDABLE LENALIDOMIDE
Cancer Alliance calls for access to affordable lenalidomide for public and private sector patients in South Africa EMBARGOED UNTIL FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15 Many cancer patients in South Africa do not have access to affordable cancer medicines – many of...
CANCER ALLIANCE PUBLISHES SECTION 3 OF THE ADVOCACY TOOLKIT ON THE NEW BREAST CANCER POLICY: ACCESS TO CARE
Breast Cancer Control Policy 2017 14th December 2018 The Cancer Alliance today publishes the third part of its series on the Breast Cancer Control Policy with Section 3: Access to Care. South Africa’s new Breast Cancer Control Policy is a vital...
WHAT IS UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE?
Universal health coverage (UHC) ensures all people, everywhere, can access the quality health services they need without suffering financial hardship. It is a fundamentally political goal rooted in the human right to health. It is also one of the...
OPEN LETTER TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTH PRODUCTS REGULATORY AUTHORITY (SAHPRA) ON ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE TRASTUZUMAB TREATMENT FOR WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH HER2+
11 December 2018 Prof Helen Rees Chairperson: SAHPRA Dear Professor Rees and officials at SAHPRA, This letter could have been composed by ANY of the women in South Africa, diagnosed with HER2+ Breast Cancer who have been denied access to lifesaving...