About Us

Generic & Biosimilar Medicines Southern Africa

Who are we?

The Generic and Biosimilar Medicines of Southern Africa was formerly the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM) which originated as a Section 21 Trade Association in 1977. It was incorporated as a not for profit company (NPC) in terms of the amendment to the Companies Act of 2008.

It is a voluntary consisting of South African and Generics based Pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors. Some of GBM’s function is to ensure that the sector plays a constructive role in our country’s economic growth, development and transformation and thereby create an environment in which the sector can thrive, expand, be competitive and enhance access of medicines to all of our country’s citizens.

GBM supports Government’s initiative of Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative SA (ASGISA) and in particular shared growth to address the twin challenges of unemployment and poverty alleviation and the economic growth rate required to meet these two challenges. NAPM is a full member of the IGBA and SAGMA.

Our mission and vision

We aim to champion affordable and accessible healthcare by promoting generic and biosimilar medicines and supporting the development of the South African pharmaceutical  industry as a national asset. We also aim to contribute to the efficiency of the regulatory system which will in turn help speed up the registration of drugs.

Our Executive Committee

Melinda Badenhorst (Novagen Pharma)

Desmond Brothers –Immediate past Chairperson

Muhammad Bodhania (Oethmaan Biosims)

Suhail Gani (Austell Laboratories)

Lorraine Keyser (Dr Reddys) – Vice Chairperson

Herman Grobler (Cipla) – Chairperson

Reshlan Nagoor (Accord Healthcare)

Mervin Naidoo (Mylan)

Erik Roos (Pharmadynamics)

Vineet Shiva (Zydus)

Anita Smal (Abex)

Guillaume Van Niekerk (Litha Healthcare)

Vivian Frittelli (GBM) –CEO

 

The benefits of being a member

The strength of any voluntary is dependent on the contribution of its members. The overriding mission of the GBM is to “provide greater access to medicines for patients in Southern Africa”. Our members ,as providers of those medicines benefit through our generic and biosmilar medicines awareness efforts, lobbying with regulators, representation on inter- governmental bodies and relationships with international associations.

Specific benefits encompass:-

  1. Networking and intelligence sharing opportunities on the Executive Committee.
  2. Representation on the Industry Task Group which interfaces with the MCC (SAHPRA) secretariat.
  3. Representation on the Pharmaceutical Task Group which interacts with the National Department of Health on Single Exit Pricing issues and regulations.
  4. Participation in the sub-committees of the association
  • Scientific and Regulatory Affairs
  • Quality Assurance and Compliance
  • Market Access and Pricing
  • Intellectual Property
  • Trade and Procurement
  • Complementary Medicines
  • Marketing
  1. Joint submission on proposed legislation and institutions such as the Competition Commission.
  2. Participation in closed workshops. Examples of which are
  • Logistics and importation
  • Cold chain requirements
  • Complementary medicine registration
  • Registration of Biosimilars
  • BBEEE requirements
  • Labour Relations/ Human Resource issues
  1. Representation on the International Generic and Biosimilar Association and networking access to the national association members and their symposia.
  2. Access to educational information provided by foreign national associations (USA, Canada, EU Australia).
  3. Development opportunities for staff to join the working groups of the IGBA.
  4. Involvement in the ICH /IGBA working groups on regulatory change.
  5. Discounts on meetings arranged by Medicines for Europe.
  6. Free advertising on the Association’s website (Click through logos).
  7. Staff recruitment opportunities utilizing the GBM website on an anonymous basis.
  8. Free local meeting facilities.
  9. Licensing opportunities.
  10. Joint research projects.

Sub-Committees

Science / Regulatory/ Biosimilars Committee

Trade and Industry / Tenders Committee

Marketing Committee

Intellectual Property Committee

Pricing  /Market Access Committee

CAMS Committee