Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
THE Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) will deploy its officers at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport to conduct on-site screening of imported medicines as authorities tighten the net on substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products.
The move is part of enhanced border control measures aimed at preventing unsafe medicines from entering the country’s supply chain.
In a statement, MCAZ director-general Mr Richard Rukwata said the initiative was in line with the authority’s mandate to safeguard public health by ensuring that all medicines circulating in Zimbabwe meet required standards of safety, quality and efficacy.
“The MCAZ hereby notifies all importers that it will conduct field screening of imported medicines at ports of entry. This initiative supports the MCAZ’s mandate to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of all medicines in Zimbabwe,” he said.
He said MCAZ officers will be stationed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, where they will sample and screen imported pharmaceutical products using rapid field detection technologies.
“All screening activities will be conducted at the expense of the MCAZ,” said Mr Rukwata. Importers using other designated ports of entry will be required to submit samples to MCAZ offices as part of the physical examination process.
“These measures are designed to identify substandard and falsified medicines before they enter the national supply chain. Importers and clearing agents must provide access to consignments for on-site sampling and testing,” said Mr Rukwata.
Where necessary, samples will be taken for confirmatory laboratory analysis.
Last year, MCAZ adopted advanced portable screening technologies, including handheld Raman and Near-Infrared (NIR) spectrometers, which enable rapid verification of medicines without opening packaging or sending samples to laboratories.
Raman spectrometers use laser light to generate a unique chemical fingerprint of a drug, while NIR spectrometers analyse internal composition using near-infrared light. The devices deliver results within minutes and are increasingly being deployed at pharmacies, clinics and border points.
The enhanced screening comes amid growing concern over the circulation of unauthorised medicines on the local market.
Last week, MCAZ issued a public alert following the detection of unauthorised Goserelin Acetate (Zoladex) injections that had entered Zimbabwe through illegal supply channels. The product is not approved for use in the country.
Zoladex is a hormone therapy injection used to treat prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. It is also prescribed for endometriosis, uterine fibroids and to thin the womb lining before surgery.
MCAZ said it is investigating the source of the unauthorised product while working to contain its circulation.
All approved wholesalers, licensed pharmacies and public and private health institutions have been instructed to immediately quarantine any units of the unapproved Zoladex injection in their possession and submit them to the authority for safe disposal.
“The MCAZ is investigating the source of this product and advises healthcare providers and the public to be cautious when purchasing Goserelin Acetate (Zoladex) 10,8 mg injection. Its packaging contains Afrikaans language, which strongly suggests that it was intended for another market and has been illegally diverted to Zimbabwe,” said Mr Rukwata.
