Medicines Online Directory Toolkit OTC and prescription (Rx)

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) launched the Online Medicines Directory for over-the-counter (OTC) medicines in June 2022. The platform, available at www.medsinfo.sahpra.org.za, serves as a single, trusted source of information for patients, consumers, and healthcare professionals on all medicines approved by SAHPRA.

Phase 1 of the project included all Schedule 0–2 products (OTCs). Phase 2, currently underway, will expand the Directory to include all prescription-only medicines (Schedule 3 and above). Once completed, the website will undergo an artwork update and feature clearly defined OTC and prescription (Rx) sections. The URL will remain unchanged.

SAHPRA is also working towards securing zero-rating of the website to improve accessibility.

We will communicate the official launch date for the prescription medicines section in due course.

To support this next phase, SAHPRA has developed the Online Directory Toolkit for Prescription-Only Medicines. This toolkit provides Market Authorisation Holders (MAHs) with activation guidance, as well as essential creative guidelines and resources to ensure consistency and alignment across all marketing and promotional platforms. The objective is to increase awareness and drive utilisation of SAHPRA’s Online Medicines Directory among healthcare professionals.

All Holders of Certificates of Registration are encouraged to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to manage this process and ensure that the correct QR code is consistently assigned to the relevant registered product.