PRA says illegal drug stores a big problem

PRA says illegal drug stores a big problem
By Mwila Chansa-Ntambi
Sun 03 July 2011, 04:00 CAT

THE problem of illegal drug stores is big, says Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Authority (PRA) regulatory officer Dr Zuma Munkombwe. In an interview at the on-going Zambia International Trade Fair in Ndola, Dr Munkombwe observed that the problem of illegal drug stores was common especially in areas that did not have registered pharmacies.

“We try to educate the public and the people involved that they cannot carry on with business of selling medicines if they do not have qualified people and if they themselves are not qualified,” he said.

Dr Munkombwe said PRA’s awareness activities had generated public interest because most people were now aware of the dangers associated with the illegal sale of drugs.

He said the public needed to know that medicines sold in registered pharmacies or those accessed from hospitals underwent rigorous processes before being authorised to sell in Zambia hence the quality of these medicines was assured.

“We did a survey to look at medicines being sold in pharmacies and we found that over 95 percent are registered medicines and the bit that was not registered was allowed to come in into the country under special circumstances,” he said.

Dr Munkombwe added that PRA also regulated medicines intended for animal use because animals equally needed quality medicines.

And interpreting this year’s theme, ‘Innovation for Competitiveness’, PRA public relations officer Ludovic Mwape said the theme meant embracing relevant new technologies such as ICTs for the benefit of both the public and the pharmaceutical industry.

Mwape said to PRA, the theme also meant improving internal and external collaboration with other agencies such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards, the Drug Enforcement Commission and other stakeholders in intensifying inspections.