By Tanya Vogt, SAMED Executive Officer
In an increasingly interconnected and health-conscious world, the idea of imposing tariffs on medical devices should give us pause, especially for a country like South Africa, where access to quality healthcare is not a privilege but a constitutional right. Recent global discourse, notably in the United States, has reignited the debate on protectionist trade policies, including tariffs on essential health technologies. The South African Medical Technology Industry Association (SAMED) believes this is a conversation we can no longer afford to ignore.
What’s at Stake?
Medical devices are not luxury commodities. They are the imaging machines that detect cancers early, the implants that restore mobility, and the diagnostic kits that safeguard communities from outbreaks. When tariffs are imposed on these tools, the implications are clear: increased costs, delayed access, disrupted supply chains, and ultimately, compromised patient care.
Globally, respected bodies such as MedTech Europe and AdvaMed have united in cautioning against the application of tariffs on medical technologies. Their message is clear and compelling: tariffs harm more than they help.
Why South Africa Should Care
South Africa, like many developing economies, is working to achieve universal health coverage, reduce the burden of disease, and improve health system efficiency. In this context, applying tariffs on medical technologies is counterintuitive. Here’s why:
- Access to Care Shouldn’t Be Taxed
Tariffs increase the landed cost of medical devices, which are often passed down the healthcare value chain to hospitals, funders, and ultimately patients. In a system already under financial strain, this could lead to rationing, procurement delays, or a pivot to less effective solutions.
In public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, zero-tariff environments proved invaluable in expediting access to critical equipment such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and PPE. If anything, South Africa’s experience should encourage policies that reduce, not raise, barriers to essential medical supplies.
- Global Supply Chains Are the New Normal
Very few countries produce complete medical devices in isolation. A typical device may include components sourced from five or more countries. Tariffs create friction in this chain, compounding delays and increasing costs. For South Africa, which still relies heavily on imports for medtech innovation, this could severely limit access to life-saving technologies.
- Tariffs Undermine Economic and Industrial Growth
Rather than encouraging innovation or local manufacture, tariffs often protect inefficient practices and reduce competitiveness. If the goal is to stimulate the local medtech sector, the better approach is to create an enabling environment through skills development, innovation incentives, regulatory efficiency, and public-private partnerships, not blanket protectionism.
Countries that eliminate tariffs on medical devices tend to attract greater foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and ultimately local production that is sustainable, competitive, and export-ready.
- Ethical and Humanitarian Dimensions
At its core, the healthcare system is about saving lives and improving quality of life. Imposing tariffs on medical devices may be interpreted as profiting off illness, an ethically questionable stance that contradicts the principles of equitable healthcare. In addition, these tariffs often restrict the work of humanitarian organisations operating in vulnerable communities.
- There’s Already a Global Model
The WTO Pharmaceutical Agreement has long established a precedent for tariff elimination on medicines among member states. Extending this model to include medical devices offers a practical path to harmonising healthcare trade, encouraging global cooperation, and advancing universal health access.
What SAMED Supports
SAMED advocates for a medtech ecosystem that is transparent, competitive, and patient-focused. We believe South Africa must resist short-term protectionism in favour of long-term solutions that strengthen our healthcare system. Instead of tariffs, we should be asking:
- How can we build resilient supply chains?
- How do we make medtech more affordable and accessible?
- What support structures can we offer to encourage local manufacturing that complements, not replaces, global partnerships?
As the policy landscape continues to evolve, SAMED stands ready to engage with government, industry, and civil society to ensure that our decisions are driven by evidence, not fear, and by people, not politics.
Because when it comes to health, every barrier we build is a patient delayed.
