Angola Ministry of Health Rolls Out High-Security Fiscal Stamps for Medicines

• The Ministry of Health in Angola is implementing high-security fiscal stamps on medicines and health technologies to reinforce safety, quality, and efficacy.
• The initiative aims to prevent the entry, circulation, and sale of counterfeit or substandard products.
• Economic operators may face challenges related to costs, logistical processes, and procedures during implementation.

We want to protect the health of Angolans and ensure that the medicines and health technologies available on our market meet the highest standards of safety, quality and efficacy,

The Ministry of Health in Angola is seeking collaboration from all stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of high-security fiscal stamps on medicines and health technologies. This initiative, which has been framed within Presidential Decree No. 103/26 of April 14, aims to reinforce the safety, quality, and efficacy of products available on the Angolan market. The Ministry's commitment to strengthening regulation, inspection, and safety is evident in its efforts to work with various institutions, including the Regulatory Agency for Medicines and Health Technologies (ARMED) and the General Tax Administration (AGT). By implementing high-security fiscal stamps, the Ministry hopes to contribute to a safer, more transparent, and regulated medicines market. This, in turn, is expected to increase citizens' confidence in the healthcare system and strengthen the National Health System.

While the implementation of high-security fiscal stamps may present challenges for economic operators, particularly in terms of costs, logistical processes, and procedures related to importation, distribution, and commercialization, the Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring a gradual, coordinated, and efficient process. The reinforcement of control mechanisms is expected to contribute to the construction of a safer medicines market, but it also requires the collaboration of all stakeholders involved in the supply chain. The Ministry has acknowledged that the impact on costs and logistical processes may be significant, but it is working closely with institutions such as ARMED and AGT to address these concerns and ensure a smooth implementation process.

The affixing of high-security fiscal stamps represents more than just a fiscal or administrative measure; it is a public health protection instrument aimed at preventing the entry, circulation, and sale of medicines and other health products of doubtful origin or that do not meet the requirements established by the competent authorities. The initiative constitutes an important mechanism to reinforce the traceability of medicines and strengthen the inspection and control instruments of the national pharmaceutical market. By contributing to the fight against counterfeit medicines, the Ministry hopes to protect the health of Angolans and ensure that the products available on the market meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for the implementation of high-security fiscal stamps on medicines in Angola, which may impact costs, logistical processes, and procedures related to importation, distribution, and commercialisation of medicines.

Source: Original reporting via AllAfrica Angola