daniel chigunwe
Ivan Zhakata Herald Correspondent
There are some Harare pharmacies selling substandard Covid-19 test kits not approved for use and those relying on the results from such kits could be putting the lives of the public at risk if positive cases are reported as negative.
During a multi stakeholder inspection by the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Health Professions Authority, and Medical Laboratories and Clinical Scientists Council yesterday it was established that pharmacies were selling the kits that were not permitted for use in the country. Besides the required approval of kits, all testing of Covid-19 in Zimbabwe has to be done by certified health personnel and authorised health institutions, both public and private.
Health Professions Authority public relations manager Ms Tariro Manamike said they were concerned over the sale of unapproved Covid-19 test kits which were producing wrong results. Most test kits that are being sold in pharmacies were substandard and not approved by health regulatory authorities.
“What we noted was there were many pharmacies in Harare that are selling unapproved test kits and this goes against the grain in us trying to fight the spread of Covid-19. So we are going to give these findings to the Ministry of Health and Child Care to address the issue.
“It is our effort to curb this unethical practice to make sure that we have got the correct figures. If the fight against Covid-19 is going to be successful, it will take joint efforts between the Ministry, the public together with all the healthcare professionals servicing members of the public. Members of the public are encouraged to get tested at health institutions approved by the Government.”
Medical laboratory science head in the Ministry’s Covid-19 department, Mr Kenneth Maeka said Covid-19 testing in Zimbabwe should be done by approved health institutions not in pharmacies.
“We wanted to make sure that we inspect pharmacies that are reportedly selling Covid-19 test kits which are rapid antigen test kits to check on the approval status of those kits. For the purpose of regulatory issues in Zimbabwe we know that testing has to be done using approved diagnostic kits.
“We are going to give advice and a directive to pharmacies that testing in Zimbabwe is supposed to be done only by trained personnel and in health facilities which have been certified and authorised to handle those Covid-19 samples,” he said.
Online Reporter