The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), says it has intensified surveillance activities across the country, in order to ensure compliance with the recent medicine recall directive and prevent continued circulation of the affected medicines.
ZAMRAÂ Public Relations Officer, Ludovic Mwape also notes that it will be conducting follow-up engagements with the suppliers of Deltaprim tablets and Cromohist eye drops, in order to fully establish its pathways and withdraw affected batches from the market.
He disclosed that inspections and monitoring of pharmaceutical outlets are ongoing to verify if distributors, wholesalers and retailers have withdrawn the affected batches from the market.
Mr Mwape stated that the defects identified are largely linked to manufacturing challenges of other factors such as storage and handling conditions that may also contribute to product quality deterioration.
The Authority also cautioned consumers to carefully check batch numbers and use alternative batches, different brands, or other treatment options as recommended by qualified health practitioners, while the recall process is ongoing.
Meanwhile, Pharmaceuticals Society of Zambia President, Keegan Mwape commended ZAMRA and its members for ensuring that quality is put first in its undertakings.
Mr Mwape also disclosed that health professionals are trained to ensure that they look at drugs in their entirety and ensure that all emerging quality issues are reported through relevant systems.
