PMRA admits presence of substandard, falsified medicines in Malawi at 4 to10 percent not 88 percent

Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority PMRA has admitted presence of substandard and falsified medicines in Malawi which is between 4 and 10 percent not 88 percent as reported by Ethiopian University

Executive director of PMRA Mphatso Kawaye has said these remarks at a press briefing in reaction to the study findings that Malawi is one of the countries with the highest rate of substandard and falsified medicines in Africa

Kawaye who was accompanied by directors of Ministry of health and central medical stores says the method that was used in analyzing the 2015 findings of a Malawian citizen in Ghana on quality of drugs and medicines was inaccurate and unreliable

“That research focused on ant malaria drugs in private health facilities and pharmacies not public hospitals therefore cannot be a representative of Malawi status on quality of drugs,” Kawaye

He said it is proper to conduct health research but warned researchers against using uncertified methods.

In his remarks Clement Stambuli a concerned citizen who wrote parliament following the issue requested PMRA against being defensive and include Malawians in its fight against presence of fake and substandard medicines in the country.

He said due to absence of medicine in public hospitals, most Malawians use medicines from private medical facilities as such are at danger of consuming substandard or expired medicine.