Government has said all new drugs and health practices can only be approved for a particular usage in Zambia when they have been certified by the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (PRA).
Reacting to recent research that suggested that truvada can be used as a preventive drug for HIV/AIDS, Dr. Chikusu said the medicine can only be used for such once it is recommended by the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (PRA).
He told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority is still conducting research on truvada to ascertain whether the drug can still be used for HIV/AIDS prevention other than for the already established AIDS disease.
Dr. Chikusu has since urged people on antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs to continue using the recommended drugs which he said the country has in abundance.
He said government will not accept health practices that would endanger the lives of people.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chikusu has disclosed that the Traditional Health Practitioner’s bill will only be tabled in parliament when government completes the consultation process with various stakeholders.
He said the bill is still in draft form while government is studying the programme of rationalising traditional remedies into conventional medicine.
Dr. Chikusu has however said government is committed to promoting certain traditional herbs that do not endanger the lives of the people.
ZANIS
Ba Dr. Chikusu, don’t sit there and act ignorant. You mean to tell me that, you’re not aware of Sondashi’s medicine? Come on.
People have been on SF2000 for some years now and guess what, it is actually working. Why government delayed to approve that K800m grant in august beats me. Your South African counterparts jumped to the chance and have been testing this in their labs for a while now. Sondashi is in serious talks with the US government as we speak. In a few years’ time Sondashi’s formula will sell and guess what, he’ll be the richest man in AFRICA, trust me.
People are still being infected and dying, more community education is needed
Bushe what does it take to approve a drug and how long. Truvada has been approved in the US or we needed in Zambia was to get maybe 10 people put them on Truvada for 3 – 6 months .if all goes well distribute the damn medicine to the neeedy. Truvada was unveiled in the US beginning of the year and yet Mr Chikusu is till approving
where will the govt of zambia get 70million x 7 million ( sexually active indiduals) / year? thats how expensive truvada is….. our country cant afford the drug period.the current stocks we have in the country are strictly for treatment ( of course from donors).
I heard ARV’S tablets are now smoked like heroine and crack cocaine in S.Africa, I wonder what will happen when Zedians find out. Its the easy way of getting high on drugs these days.. cheap and legal.
how can one access sf 2000