Common questions

Section 21 of the Medicines and Related Substances Act allows SAHPRA to authorise access to medicines that are not yet registered for general sale in South Africa. Medical cannabis products are dispensed under this pathway. Each Section 21 authorisation is patient-specific, product-specific, and valid for 6 months.

Yes. Doctor-prescribed medical cannabis dispensed under a SAHPRA Section 21 authorisation by a licensed pharmacy is fully legal under South African law. Docto24 operates only within this regulated pathway — we do not facilitate any access outside it.

SAHPRA typically issues Section 21 authorisations within 2 to 3 business days of a complete submission. We do not control SAHPRA timing, but we ensure each application is filed correctly first time to avoid avoidable delays.

Common indications include chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, neuropathic pain, endometriosis, multiple sclerosis, treatment-resistant epilepsy, and cancer-related pain or symptoms. The list is not exhaustive — eligibility is decided per individual case by a HPCSA-registered doctor based on your full clinical picture.

Yes. A SAHPRA Section 21 authorisation is valid for 6 months from approval. Within that window, your chosen pharmacy can dispense monthly repeats against your prescription without requiring a new doctor consultation, subject to clinical check-ins.

Consultations may be claimable under medical aid code 0130 depending on your scheme and plan. Section 21 fees and dispensed product are typically not covered by medical aid. Check directly with your provider before booking — every scheme handles this differently.

R500 for the doctor consultation. R400 per product for each SAHPRA Section 21 application. Medication and delivery are priced by the dispensing pharmacy and shown before you confirm. There are no Docto24 subscription fees, monthly memberships, or platform mark-ups.

Licensed South African retail pharmacies that are partnered with Docto24 for medical cannabis. You choose your pharmacy from the catalogue when ordering. The pharmacy holds the product, verifies your authorisation, dispenses, and arranges courier delivery. Docto24 never holds or handles medication.