A NEW JOINT venture plans to exploit the market created by a World Health Organisation (WHO) directive that member countries scrap reusable syringes by 2020, and is eyeing Durban as a potential site to manufacture a safe alternative licensed by Star Syringe.
The Life Saver Medical Company is a joint venture that includes local healthcare firm Forever Africa, which counts pharmaceutical manufacturer Biotech Laboratories in its stable. The WHO launched a global campaign last year to eliminate dirty needles, which it estimates are responsible for 1.3-million deaths worldwide each year. It estimated that in 2010 up to 1.7-million people were infected with hepatitis B virus, up to 315,000 with hepatitis C virus and as many as 33,800 with HIV through unsafe injections.
By 2020, the WHO wants every injection to be given with a safely engineered syringe. As a member of the WHO, SA is expected to make this transition.
"Without local manufacturers, (SA) is vulnerable to the vagaries of international suppliers," said Star Syringe founder Marc Koska, who invented a syringe designed to break if someone tries to use it again.
A small ring etched inside the barrel of the K1 syringe allows its plunger to depress, but locks if the plunger is withdrawn: if it is then forced, the device breaks. The K1 syringe was accredited by the WHO and was International Standards Organisation approved, said Koska. More than 5.5-billion K1 syringes had been sold to date, to governments and agencies such as Unicef and Save the Children, he said.
"Historically, SA has needed 300-million syringes per annum: we know it’s been buying one third to a quarter of that number," he said, suggesting this pointed to extensive reuse.
Koska said his estimate of the number of syringes required was based on the volume of injectable drugs purchased in the public and private sector combined.
Koska said safe syringes offered a good return on investment, as the WHO estimated that for every dollar spent on a safe syringe, $14.50 was saved in healthcare costs averted.
Forever Africa chairman Shad Mapetla said the planned manufacturing facility would supply the entire Southern African Development Community region. Established suppliers were based primarily in India and China but the WHO’s push for safe syringes had opened opportunities for new entrants.
Once the facility was established, it would expand its offerings to include other safety-engineered medical devices, said Koska.
JAB: SA is set to start producing safety-engineered syringes to eliminate the health risks of reuse. Picture: BLOOMBERG
A NEW JOINT venture plans to exploit the market created by a World Health Organisation (WHO) directive that member countries scrap reusable syringes by 2020, and is eyeing Durban as a potential site to manufacture a safe alternative licensed by Star Syringe.
The Life Saver Medical Company is a joint venture that includes local healthcare firm Forever Africa, which counts pharmaceutical manufacturer Biotech Laboratories in its stable. The WHO launched a global campaign last year to eliminate dirty needles, which it estimates are responsible for 1.3-million deaths worldwide each year. It estimated that in 2010 up to 1.7-million people were infected with hepatitis B virus, up to 315,000 with hepatitis C virus and as many as 33,800 with HIV through unsafe injections.
By 2020, the WHO wants every injection to be given with a safely engineered syringe. As a member of the WHO, SA is expected to make this transition.
"Without local manufacturers, (SA) is vulnerable to the vagaries of international suppliers," said Star Syringe founder Marc Koska, who invented a syringe designed to break if someone tries to use it again.
A small ring etched inside the barrel of the K1 syringe allows its plunger to depress, but locks if the plunger is withdrawn: if it is then forced, the device breaks. The K1 syringe was accredited by the WHO and was International Standards Organisation approved, said Koska. More than 5.5-billion K1 syringes had been sold to date, to governments and agencies such as Unicef and Save the Children, he said.
"Historically, SA has needed 300-million syringes per annum: we know it’s been buying one third to a quarter of that number," he said, suggesting this pointed to extensive reuse.
Koska said his estimate of the number of syringes required was based on the volume of injectable drugs purchased in the public and private sector combined.
Koska said safe syringes offered a good return on investment, as the WHO estimated that for every dollar spent on a safe syringe, $14.50 was saved in healthcare costs averted.
Forever Africa chairman Shad Mapetla said the planned manufacturing facility would supply the entire Southern African Development Community region. Established suppliers were based primarily in India and China but the WHO’s push for safe syringes had opened opportunities for new entrants.
Once the facility was established, it would expand its offerings to include other safety-engineered medical devices, said Koska.
