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Zimbabwe: Drugs, Medical Supplies Importation Banned
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
6 August 2008
Posted to the web 6 August 2008
Harare
GOVERNMENT has banned the importation of drugs and other medical supplies through all border posts around the country except for two designated points - Beitbridge and Plumtree.
The ban, effected on July 1 this year, is meant to curb the prevalence of counterfeit drugs, which had flooded the market through various entry points.
Speaking during a tour of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe laboratory by the Deputy Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr Edwin Muguti, in Harare yesterday, the authority's director general, Mr Mafios Dhauramanzi said a number of unlicensed indigenous suppliers were importing counterfeit medicines mainly through northern border posts.
He said many medicines were coming in from Zambia and Nigeria through Chirundu, Kazungula and Nyamapanda border posts yet Zimbabwe's main drug suppliers are in South Africa.
"Many dealers are taking advantage of the shortage of medical supplies to bring in counterfeit drugs into the country. We have since confiscated a number of medicines that were already on the market but were not registered by us. Most of the medicines are not in compliance with our standards," Mr Dhauramanzi said.
The authority is also closely monitoring pharmaceutical companies selling unregistered or expired medicines purchased through these unlicensed dealers.
A number of pharmaceuticals have since been nabbed and MCAZ has confiscated the unlicensed drugs while the involved pharmaceuticals had their licences revoked.
"We sought permission from the courts to destroy expired drugs we confiscated from pharmacies and to stock our public institutions with drugs confiscated from unlicensed dealers. The paper work is almost complete," Mr Dhauramanzi.
MCAZ is currently in possession of a consignment of sodium chloride (intravenous fluid) that was confiscated from an unlicensed dealer in Harare.
The fluid was however tested for effectiveness and was found below standard.
Despite the enormous task being done by the authority to protect consumers from counterfeit drugs and ensure drug effectiveness, quality and safety, Mr Dhauramanzi said the authority receive little financial support from Government.
"As a quality control organ, we should also provide quality services to our clients through well functioning equipment and motivated staff," he said.
He said currently, the institution is finding it difficult to cope with increased pressure from clients mostly from the non-governmental organisations versus obsolete equipment.
"Most of our equipment have never been replaced since the 1980s and they are always down from time to time.
"The Ministry of Health seem to have forgotten that we exist because we have been left out on a number of issues. We last received financial assistance in 1997," Mr Dhauramanzi said.
MCAZ is involved in quality assurance of all medical supplies manufactured both locally and outside the country.
Addressing officials from MCAZ during the tour, Dr Muguti assured the institution that he will take their concerns and promised to return with a feedback.
He encouraged the institution to carry on with the tremendous work it was doing saying controlling and monitoring selling of drugs would help many people from buying counterfeit drugs.
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"When doctors use these counterfeit drugs, they won't be effective and the end result is a patient's death. The work you are doing is very important and need to be complimented," Dr Muguti said.
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