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RPL Statement
On 4 February 2008 the Director General of Health invited interested parties to make submissions on a Reference Price List. Upon the request of provider groups, the Director General of Health extended the final date for submissions to 19 May 2008. Of the 48 submissions received, 37 submissions did not comply with Regulation 3 (2) of the Regulations relating to the obtainment of information and the processes of determination and publication of a reference price list. These 37 submissions were not satisfactory for one or more of the following reasons:
It was therefore not possible to make a determination about a reference price list from the information presented in these submissions. All 48 submissions have been increased by 8.7% of the 2008 reference price list schedule. During this comment period provider groups have been invited to submit additional information that make assist in the determination of a reference price list. The remaining 11 submissions complied with the information requirements as outlined in Regulation 3 (2) and are currently being verified. The 11 submissions to be verified are the following:
The comments for the 37 draft schedules should be made in writing and sent electronically to Mr. Siyabonga Jikwana at jikwas@health.gov.za by no later than 12 o'clock on the 10th October 2008. http://www.doh.gov.za/docs/nhrpl-f.html
Illegal cut-price crowns and dentures imported from China faces jail
The dental industry has been warned that anyone found using illegal cut-price crowns and dentures imported from China faces jail, say the industry's watchdogs.
The Dental Technology Association of SA and the SA Dental Association have raised concerns about the number of illegal dental laboratories springing up, and the use of cheap and potentially deadly crowns and dentures that could put patients at risk.
The products are often made in unregulated laboratories and can contain dangerous levels of lead, dental experts warned.
The Daily Mail in the UK reported that fears over the toxic metal content of crowns, veneers, bridges and dentures were raised when a 73-year-old American woman from Ohio became sick after being given a new crown made in China.
In the US, four cases of lead poisoning have been linked to Chinese dental fixtures. A laboratory test revealed that some contained 210 times the acceptable level of lead.
Dave Owen, a member of the Dental Technology Association of SA, said many illegal dental technicians were practising in this country.
"It is illegal to import dental goods from China. Anyone found importing these goods will get the maximum sentence: jail time. We will no longer give them a slap on the wrist with a mere R50 000 fine."
South African products were of a high standard and materials came from certified European companies.
He said high quantities of nickel and lead had also been linked with Parkinson's disease.
"That is why there is a major move away from using metal."
Owen said in this country the South African Dental Technicians' Council regulated the industry. It had investigated two cases recently, one in Cape Town and the other in Pietermaritzburg.
In both cases the technicians "got away" with a fine.
"There is also an investigation into a major healthcare group that is suspected of getting work done in China," he said.
Neil Campbell, chief executive of the SA Dental Association, warned that more and more illegal labs were popping up. The council needed to act swiftly and do more to stop these illegal businesses.
"They are slow to react," he said.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Richard Daniels, the chief executive of the Dental Laboratories Association in the UK, said the number of potentially dangerous imports was rising.
"At this point nobody knows what the health risks are," he said.
"The fact is the majority of National Health Service fixtures will be coming from China or India in the next five years.
"We need to be moving towards proper regulation of the industry."
The newspaper reported that subsequent tests on other Chinese crowns revealed some had dangerous levels of lead, forcing the US National Association of Dental Laboratories to issue a warning to patients.
Dangerous crowns and dentures have yet to be reported in Britain. However, there has recently been a surge in the number of dental fixtures imported from China to the UK. These now make up 5 percent of the market, compared with less than 1 percent three years ago.
There have been concerns about other products made in China. Last year, toy manufacturer Mattel launched a massive product recall after some of its products made in China were found to have high levels of lead.
And in South Africa dog food was withdrawn from shelves after the basic ingredients imported from China were found to contain melamine.
David Smith, a board member of the Dental Laboraties Association in Britain, said: "The worst-case scenario is we'll end up with a large number of people in the UK with mouths full of lead and they've got no idea that that's the case. It's a ridiculous situation.
Mattel could simply pull its toys off the shelves when they realised there was a problem.
"It's nowhere near as simple if the contaminated product is a dental fixture in someone's mouth.
"But the truth is, if the situation isn't addressed then it is only a matter of time before there is a similar case as in the US."
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The Dental Technology Association of South Africa