by Favour Matenga
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has unearthed cases of unqualified people selling unregistered medical drugs from unlicensed facilities which puts the health of people in danger. This was revealed by the authority in two statements which it issued on its Facebook page.
“Following tip-offs from members of the public, MCAZ inspectors visited Mutawatawa (Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe in Murewa) where inspections conducted in an unlicensed surgery and another facility operating without a dispensing license, unearthed more than 170 lines of unregistered medicines,” the authority said.
MCAZ highlighted that preliminary investigations pointed possible cases of some of the finding being stolen from Government.
“There are indications of some medicines being stolen from Ministry of Health and Child Care public health facilities,” the authority said.
Within a week of the Murewa of incident MCAZ attended a similar incident in Harare where some unregistered medical drugs were found.
“Following another tip-off from a concerned member of the public, MCAZ inspected Superlink Medical Centre located at 12632 Kuwadzana Phase 3 Shopping Centre.
“The Medical Centre was not licensed by Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPA). It did not have a dispensing license from MCAZ and it was being supervised by an unqualified and unlicensed gentleman.
MCAZ inspectors also discovered unregistered medicines on the premises with some of them hidden in a refuse bin.
The authority called on members of the public to continue bringing to its attention such cases, which endanger people’s health, and to seek healthcare services from professionals who operate from licensed facilities.
“Members of the public are continuously encouraged to report such cases to the authority and to always ensure that professional healthcare advice and services are sought from licensed premises and persons,” said MCAZ.
Given the high standards of Zimbabwe’s healthcare facilities, professionals and regulation of medicines, the perpetrators of such criminal acts should be brought to book.
