Parliament praises PMRA’s commitment to fighting corruption
The Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament has commended Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) for demonstrating serious commitment to the fight against corruption within the organization.
Committee Vice Chairperson Hon. Yusuf Nthenda made the remarks in Lilongwe on Friday when PMRA Institutional Integrity Committee (IIC) appeared before the parliamentary committee to appraise it of the progress the IIC has made in the implementation of anti-corruption activities in line with the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS II).
Nthenda applauded PMRA Management’s commitment to allocating adequate funds for IIC activities, citing it as a tangible demonstration of the seriousness and resolve required to combat corruption effectively.
“We can only contain corruption if we are serious in our fight against the vice. PMRA has demonstrated that they are serious and as a Committee we are satisfied with the progress they have made so far,” he said.
The Committee has since urged PMRA to ensure it has in place a whistleblower protection policy to facilitate safe and confidential channel for employees to report corruption.
In his remarks, PMRA Director General Mphatso Kawaye assured the Committee of management’s resolve to supporting activities of the IIC. He reiterated the Authority’s commitment to pursuing zero tolerance to all forms of corruption, strengthen PMRA’s institutional integrity, foster a culture of transparency and accountability, and ultimately contribute towards promotion of good governance in the pharmaceutical sector.
On her part, PMRA IIC Chairperson Irene Dzanjalimodzi expressed her committee’s commitment to implementing the recommendations and guidance provided by the Legal Affairs Committee. She assured that the IIC will utilize this expert advice to ensure effective implementation of its future anti-corruption activities.
PMRA established its IIC in February, 2023 to spearhead anti-corruption efforts within the organization. The objectives of the PMRA IIC are to ensure increased knowledge on corruption prevention mechanisms to members of staff and stakeholders; strengthened measures for the prevention and detection of corruption; and enhanced reporting mechanisms for suspected corrupt practices.
Man sentenced to 15 months in jail for false HIV cure claims
The Mwanza Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 32-year-old Petros Jasi of Tulonkhondo village, Traditional Authority Kanduku in the district to 15 months in prison for selling tablet medicines which he falsely claimed to be “Gammora” an HIV cure, deceiving numerous individuals and putting lives at risk.
The court found Jasi guilty of violating the HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Management) Act and the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) Act, 2019 for proclaiming false information about HIV and AIDS and advertising medicinal products without authorization.
The prosecution argued that Jasi’s actions led some HIV-positive individuals to stop taking their anti-retroviral (ARV) medication, resulting in loss of lives. The court agreed, stating that the proliferation of such misinformation undermines the progress made in the national HIV response.
The court then proceeded to sentence Jasi to 15 years in prison with no option for a fine to deter would-be offenders.
Jasi’s arrest in May this year followed a joint investigation by the National AIDS Commission (NAC), PMRA, and Malawi Police Service into social media adverts claiming to cure HIV. The authorities are still tracking down other individuals involved in spreading similar false information.
This sentence serves as a warning to those who exploit vulnerable individuals by spreading misinformation. The public is urged to be cautious and seek accurate information from trusted sources.
Earlier in March this year, the Magistrate’s Court Mangochi fined two women to pay about K2.5 million each for selling vials of injectable gentamicin falsified as “Gammora HIV Cure.”