SAHPRA is an entity of the National Department of Health, created by the South African Government to ensure that the health and well-being of human and animal health is at its core. SAHPRA assumed the roles of both the Medicines Control Council (MCC) as well as the Directorate of Radiation Control (DRC) which were housed at the National Department of Health (NDoH). Subsequently, SAHPRA was constituted as an independent entity that reports to the National Minister of Health through its Board.