# SAMF

> South African Medicines Formulary for healthcare practitioners. (iPhone/iPad app by THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samf/id1574380535 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION](https://appshunter.io/developer/1570538522)
- Category: Medical, Books
- Price: Free with in-app purchases (on sale, was $3.99)
- Age rating: 17+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 72 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2021-08-15
- Data updated: 2026-09-04
- Monetization: subscription
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samf/id1574380535/reviews.md

## What is SAMF?

Regarded as the gold standard of medicines information and clinical management protocols in South Africa, the South African Medicines Formulary (SAMF), first published in 1988, is a trusted source of information and provides up-to-date, reliable, unbiased and evaluated information on medicines. 
Currently on its 15th edition , it has become a standard health practitioner's medicine reference guide, respected for accuracy of content and independence from the pharmaceutical industry. It is now available on this mobile application and supported by a web portal (https://samf-app.com/) which subscribers will have access to.

The SAMF application and Book is a joint initiative of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town and the South African Medical Association (SAMA). Liquid thought maintains the application and web portal.
To find information on each of the entities :
- Medicines Information Centre, Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town: http://www.mic.uct.ac.za
- South African Medical Association: https://www.samedical.org
- Liquid thought: https://www.liquidthought.co.za

All content provided in the Platform is for informational, educational and assistive purposes only, and is not a substitute for the professional judgement of healthcare professionals diagnosing and treating patients. UCT and SAMA do not provide medical advice or medical or diagnostic services through the Platform. Any reliance on the content obtained on or through the Platform is at your own risk.

SAMF Citation:
-  Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences. (2024). South African Medicines Formulary (SAMF). SAMF website. https://samf-app.com 

Get access to SAMF app content with an in-app purchase.
There are 2 subscription options to choose from:
- 1 month subscription costs R93.99 (Prices may vary slightly depending on location)
- 1 year subscription costs R929.99 (Prices may vary slightly depending on location)

Payment will be made at the time of purchase confirmation via your App Store account
The subscription will be automatically extended if you do not switch off the automatic renewal at least 24 hours before the premium membership expires

## Key features

- Up-to-date medicines information
- Clinical management protocols
- Reliable and unbiased content
- Trusted reference guide
- Independent from pharmaceutical industry
- Mobile and web portal access

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Yearly subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 16)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/samf/id1574380535/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Missing some meds

*2025-09-17, version 1.57*

I just subscribed to SAMF. I had a case of hypertensive emergency and couldn’t find clevidipine in the database. However, I found it on EMGuidance, which is free. Quite disappointing!

### 5/5 — Excellent app

*2025-09-15, version 1.57*

Always up to date and accurate information

### 1/5 — App doesn’t open or work

*2025-02-18, version 1.55*

I literally had to pay R100 to use the app and it didn’t even work. So I paid for nothing. When it has to open it say “Error”

### 1/5 — App doesn’t work

*2025-02-09, version 1.55*

Downloaded app, registered and payed for year subscription… afterward content couldn’t download and gave error. Tried deleting and reinstalling, but did not work. Payed for unusable app.

### 1/5 — Doesnt work

*2025-02-06, version 1.55*

Tried to register and choose a plan, every time i select a plan it closes the app on iOS. Needs to be fixed

### 1/5 — App doesn’t work with iOs

*2025-01-30, version 1.55*

I was excited to pay & subscribe today hoping the app glitches would have been sorted out. Sadly, the app just keeps on crashing and closing when choosing a subscription option. Really disappointing. I’m using an iPhone iOs 18.2.1

### 3/5 — Expensive

*2024-09-10, version 1.55*

I think in the future SAMF should consider making this app free for those who bought the physical copy of the book. It’s too expensive to be paying for both

### 1/5 — Does not work

*2024-07-09, version 1.55*

I use iOS 17.5.1 and the app does not work, it just keeps sending me back and forth to the login & subscription pages even though I’m subscribed.

### 5/5 — Trustworthy info

*2023-12-18, version 1.48*

Takes some time to get used to the app, but love having the info at my finger tips.

### 1/5 — Useless App

*2023-08-23, version 1.48*

This App is a waste of money and time. User interface is buggy and slow. Cannot open most drugs. Searching for Voltaren only brings up topic treatment for eyes. Searching for Prednisone brings up long list but tapping on Prednisone brings no result. The developers must go back to drawing board.

## Frequently asked questions about SAMF

### What is SAMF?

SAMF is the South African Medicines Formulary, a trusted source of up-to-date, reliable, and unbiased information on medicines and clinical management protocols, first published in 1988.

### Who developed SAMF?

SAMF is a joint initiative of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Cape Town and the South African Medical Association (SAMA).

### Is SAMF available on multiple devices?

Yes, the SAMF app is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod, as indicated by its supported devices.

### How often is SAMF updated?

The application and its content are regularly updated, with the latest version being 1.57, last updated on March 12, 2025.

### What are the subscription options for SAMF?

SAMF offers two subscription options: a 1-month subscription for R93.99 and a 1-year subscription for R929.99. Prices may vary slightly by location.

### How do I cancel my SAMF subscription?

Your subscription will automatically renew unless you switch off automatic renewal at least 24 hours before the premium membership expires. Payment is managed through your App Store account.

### Does SAMF provide medical advice?

No, all content provided in the SAMF platform is for informational, educational, and assistive purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical judgment. UCT and SAMA do not provide medical advice through the platform.

### What is the age rating for SAMF?

SAMF has an age rating of 17+, indicating it is intended for mature users.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.57 — 2025-03-12

Updated app description pricing

### 1.56 — 2025-02-27

This build includes the following fixes :
App crash for IOS users with IOS version 18 and above when selecting a subscription period.
There is an app display issue for users when trying to redownload content; this occurs for first-time subscribers.

### 1.55 — 2024-04-30

Alphabetical Index

### 1.54 — 2024-03-07

In-App Communication Upgrade: Receive SAMF team messages via new in-app notifications and inbox.
Enhanced Navigation: Find drugs easily with the new index option in the menu.
Intuitive Trade Name Search: Quickly locate drugs like "Panado" and "Brufen" for a smoother search.
Improved Search Visibility: Highlighted search terms for clearer results, helping users find what they need faster.

### 1.48 — 2023-07-27

Updated content download ability

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## More apps by THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

- [SA Medical Association](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sa-medical-association/id1570538520)

All apps by THE SOUTH AFRICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION: https://appshunter.io/developer/1570538522

## Related topics

[the south african](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/the-south-african)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-04.*