Policy for the Regulation of Quality Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Supply in Healthcare

Policy for the Regulation of Quality Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) Supply in Healthcare

This policy is developed by the National Department of Health (NDOH) Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) Quality Assurance Committee in conjunction with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) and the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications of South Africa (NRCS). The intention of this policy is to ensure that all health workers in South Africa are afforded access to quality respiratory protective equipment, and in particular half face particulate respirators. This translates into best protection against COVID-19, TB and any other respiratory infectious disease during and post COVID-19 pandemic. Such protection ensures our already under-resourced human resource health sector is not further denuded through illness and that patients are afforded access to quality healthcare.  Therefore, this policy and the associated technical information are provided to ensure that new respirators and respirators already in circulation are checked to meet industry quality standards. The interventions introduced through this policy are a collaborative and innovative mechanism to incentivise provision of quality respirators at the point of use. Mechanisms herein incentivise suppliers, purchasers and facilities across the public and private sector to ensure quality and appropriate products are purchased (local or imported) and that they are readily available in sufficient supply to meet demand. 
Type
Policies
Topic
COVID-19
Language
English
Publisher
National Department of Health
Year
2020