The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) is following with concern the ensuing debate around a study by the Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia suggesting the country has highest proportion of substandard medicines.
The Authority assures stakeholders and the public that, contrary to the study report, the medicines being consumed in the country are of good quality. The Malawi 2015 study that was included in the Bahir Dar University review has serious methodological issues that the Authority will address during a press conference slated for Monday at 09:00 a.m. in Lilongwe.
The Authority has a robust system for routine quality surveillance of medicines on the Malawi market whereby samples are collected from both public and private health facilities and tested by the Authority’s National Medicines Quality Control Laboratory.
The PMRA laboratory is ISO 17025 Accredited, indicating that as a country we have the requisite capacity and international recognition to test and assure the quality of the medicines which we consume in the country.
Based on the data that we have collected through the medicines quality surveillance and testing program, the prevalence of substandard medicines in Malawi is currently estimated at 4%. We are, therefore, assured of good quality medicines in the country.
The Authority will continue to engage the public with scientific facts on the matter as will do at the Monday, 19th August, 2024 press briefing.