'Local drugs are safe'

The South African subsidiary of beleaguered drug maker Ranbaxy, has assured the public that drugs manufactured locally are safe.

Ranbaxy South Africa holds a 68 per cent stake in Sonke Pharmaceuticals, while Community Investment Holdings holds the rest. "There are no products, antiretroviral drugs or otherwise, on the South African market, or in any other market in any country that were manufactured during this period," Dale Adkisson, executive head of global quality at Ranbaxy, told the Sunday Times.