Specially trained pharmacists in South Africa can now apply for temporary permits to dispense HIV prevention pills without a doctor’s script, according to a report by Spotlight on 26 August 2026. The limited-scope PIMART permits cover prevention services such as PrEP and PEP, but do not extend to HIV treatment.
The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) confirmed that permits will only be granted to pharmacists who have already completed the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society’s (SAHCS) continuous professional development PIMART course. According to Spotlight, the temporary permits are valid for 24 months, though this detail has not been independently confirmed by a separate official public notice.
Vincent Tlala, CEO and Registrar of the SAPC, told Spotlight that the Council requested the Director-General of Health to issue a limited-scope permit granting PIMART-trained pharmacists access to services covered in the SAHCS short course. The Department of Health received that request on 23 April 2026.
The legal framework has been in place since August 2021, when Board Notice 101 of 2021 set out the PIMART requirements. Pharmacists must complete accredited training, record the course with the SAPC, apply for a Section 22(A)15 permit from the National Department of Health, and then record the permit with the SAPC before practising.
Implementation was delayed for months after the Supreme Court of Appeal cleared the way for SAPC to proceed in October 2025. Angela Tembo, director of pharmacy health at Ezintsha, told Spotlight in June 2026 that the delays related to ongoing discussions around training requirements, accreditation processes, and the practical implementation pathway following the ruling.
For communities across the Cape Flats and the wider Western Cape, the change could expand access to HIV prevention medication at pharmacy level, reducing reliance on clinic appointments and doctor consultations. Pharmacies in areas such as Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain, and Gugulethu, where clinic queues are often long, could become additional points of access for PrEP and PEP.
What remains unconfirmed is the exact number of pharmacists eligible to apply, the precise date applications opened, and whether the permits also cover HIV testing services alongside PrEP and PEP. The 24-month permit validity and the current status of approvals issued by the Department of Health as of 26 August 2026 are supported only by Spotlight and have not been corroborated by an independent official notice.
Cape Flats will check with the National Department of Health and the SAPC on the status of permit approvals and operational rollout details by the end of September 2026.