Technical Committees
Section 17 of the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) Act, No. 9 of 2019 provides for establishment of Technical Committees to advise the Authority on technical matters related to PMRA functions. Accordingly, the PMRA has established the following Technical Committees and Sub-Committees:
Finance and Administration Committee
The Finance and Administration Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 (d) of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to fulfill the following functions, among others:
(a) Assist the Authority fulfil its stewardship responsibilities by reviewing and making recommendations to the Authority on financial information, strategic financial plans and annual operations and capital budgets;
(b) Assist the Authority in fulfilling its fiduciary corporate governance and legislative responsibilities, risk management, human resources management, and asset procurement, management and disposal.
The Finance and Administration Committee meets quarterly and the current members of the Committee are as listed in the table below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution/ Organisation |
Mrs. Mary Chikhadze | Chairperson | Board Member | |
Mr. Chance Munthali | Member | Board Member | |
3. | Mr. George Jobe | Member | Malawi Health Equity Network (MHEN) |
4. | Ministry of Health Rep. | Member | Ministry of Health |
5. | Mr. Jafali Chisalika | Member | Community Pharmacist |
6. | Ms. Rosert Malikebu | Member | Institute of Charted Accountants in Malawi (ICAM) |
7. | DSC Representative | Member | Department of Statutory Corporation (DSC) |
8. | Fumbani Sichinga | Member | Ministry of Finance |
9. | Counsel Frank Matola | Member | Ministry of Justice |
Medicines Committee
The Medicines Committee has been established in line with Section 17 of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to, among others, perform the following functions:
(a) advise the Authority on—
- licensing of medicines and allied substances;
- monitoring advertisement on medicines and allied substances;
- monitoring the standards relating to medicines and allied substances; and
- monitoring the conduct of clinical trials;
(b) provide technical and scientific advice on any aspect of medicines and allied substances;
(c) review risk assessment and risk management measures relating to medicines and allied substances;
(d) recommend containment measures, reporting mechanisms, remedial measures, monitoring procedures and other appropriate conditions for medicines or allied substances; and
(e) perform any other function conferred on the Medicine Committee by the Authority for purposes of this Act.
The Medicine Committee comprises experts in human medicine, veterinary medicine, pharmacology, other experts that may be deemed necessary by the Authority. The current members of the Medicines Committee are listed below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution / Organisation |
1. | Mr. William Mpute | Chairperson | Pharmaceutical Society of Malawi (PHASOM) |
2. | Dr. Marvin Phonera | Member | Board Member |
3. | Mr. Evans Chirambo | Member | Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM) |
4. | Mrs. Chikhulupiliro C. Yiwombe | Member | Ministry of Health (DHTSS) |
5. | Mr. John Ndaferankhande | Member | Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust |
6. | Mr. Sam Nowa | Member | Kamuzu Central Hospital |
7. | Dr. Tamanda Hiwa | Member | Kamuzu Central Hospital s |
Medicines Safety and Quality Monitoring Committee
The Medicines Safety and Quality Monitoring Technical Committee has been established in line with Section 17 of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to advise the Authority on matters relating to medicine safety.
The Committee membership is comprised of experts in human medicine, clinical pharmacy, toxicology, pharmaceutical analysis, pathology, veterinary medicine, epidemiology, or biologicals.
The current members of the Medicines Safety and Quality Monitoring Technical Committee are listed below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution / Organisation |
1. | Mr. John Mhango | Chairperson | Board Member |
2. | Mrs. Christina Mwinjiwa | Member | Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) |
3. | Mr. Francis Chiumia | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
4. | Mrs. Vongaishe Chafewa | Member | Community Pharmacist |
5. | Dr. Beatrice Matanje | Member | National AIDS Commission (NAC) |
6. | Dr. Amos Nsekandiana | Member | Medical Aid Society of Malawi |
7. | Ms. Nettie Dzabala | Member | Community Pharmacist |
8. | Dr. Joe Nkhoma | Member | Veterinary Surgeon |
9. | Dr. Lilian Chunda | Co-opted Member | Ministry of Health |
Clinical Trial Review Committee
The Clinical Trial Review Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 as a Sub-Committee of the Medicines Committee to, among other functions, advise the Authority on matters related to authorization and monitoring of clinical trials.
Membership of the Clinical Trials Review Committee consists of professionals with expertise in clinical research, epidemiology, pharmacology, biostatistics, regulatory science and ethics. The Committee does co-opt to its meetings any person[s] whose knowledge or expertise of any subject under discussion is considered useful.
The current members of the Clinical Trials Review Committee are listed in the table below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution/ Organisation |
1. | Dr. Enock Ludzu | Chairperson | Board Member |
2. | Dr. Noel Patson | Member | Malaria Alert |
3. | Dr. Agnes Moses | Member | Partners in Health |
4. | Mr. Blessings Thuboy | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
5. | Dr. M. Madanitsa | Member | Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) |
6. | Dr. Alinune Kabaghe | Member | CDC |
7. | Dr. Kondwani Katundu | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
8. | Ms. Moreen Ndalama | Member | Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Trust – Research |
9. | Dr. Msandeni Kayuni | Member | Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) |
Pharmacy Committee
The Pharmacy Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to, among other functions act as the disciplinary committee of the Authority.
The Committee deals with all matters relating to—
(a) the registration and discipline of pharmacists, pharmacy technologists or pharmacy assistants; and
(b) the registration, control and regulation of any pharmacy practice premises.
The current members of the Pharmacy Committee are listed below.
No. | Name | Title | Institution / Organisation |
1. | Mr. Chance Munthali | Chairperson | Board Member |
2. | Mr. John Mhango | Member | Board Member |
3. | Mr. Nelson Nyoloka | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
4. | Mr. Innocent Mainjeni | Member | Village Research Project |
5. | Mr. Charles Chimenya | Member | Ministry of Health – HTSS |
6. | Ms. Thenjiwe Disi | Member | Medical Council |
7. | Mr. Mahommed Tayub | Member | Community Pharmacist |
8. | Counsel Aisha Leilah Banda | Member | Ministry of Justice |
Allied Substances Committee
The Allied Substances Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to, among other functions, provide technical and scientific advice to the Authority on matters related to regulation of allied substances.
Composition of the Allied Substances Committee consists of members with expertise in the following areas: Traditional Medicines, biopharmaceutics, medical laboratory science, biochemistry, Biomedical engineering, biological science and nursing. The Committee may co-opt to its meetings any person(s) whose knowledge or expertise of any subject under discussion is considered useful.
The Committee meets quarterly and the current members are as listed in the table below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution/ Organisation |
1. | Dr. Marvin Phonera | Chairperson | Board Member |
2. | Mrs. Flossy Lombola | Member | Board Member |
3. | Mr. John Mponda | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
4. | Dr. Zac Magombo | Member | National Herberium |
5. | Dr. John Kamanula | Member | Mzuzu University (MZUNI) |
6. | Ms. Thembisa Sibande | Member | Community Pharmacist |
7. | Mr. Bright Lipenga | Member | Liverpool Wellcome Trust – Research |
8. | CHSU Representative | Member | Ministry of Health – Public Health Lab. |
9. | Mr. Stephen Kuyeli | Member | Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS) |
Education Sub-Committee
The Education Sub-Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 (d) of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to assist the Authority in dealing with all matters relating to Pharmacy education and standards in Malawi.
The Education Sub-Committee meets quarterly and the current members of the Sub-Committee are as listed in the table below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution/ Organisation |
1. | Mr. Mahommed Tayub | Chairperson | Private Practice Pharmacist |
2. | Mr Ernest Matambo | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
Mr King Bwaila | Member | Malawi College of Health Sciences | |
Ms Lydia Ikwanga | Member | Ekwendeni College of Health Sciences | |
Mr. John Mhango | Member | Board Member | |
Dr. Japhet Bakuwa | Member | National Council for Higher Education |
Medical Devices Sub-Committee
The Medical Devices Sub-Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 (d) of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to advise the Authority in all matters relating to the regulation of Medical Devices.
The Medical Devices Sub-Committee meets quarterly and the current members of the Sub-Committee are as listed in the table below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution/ Organisation |
1. | CHSU | Chairperson | Ministry of Health – Public Health Lab. |
2. | Mrs. Flossy Lombola | Member | Board Member |
3. | Dr. Baxter Kachingwe | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
4. | Ms. Jane Chirwa | Member | John Hopkins |
5. | MUST Rep. | Member | Malawi University of Health Sciences (MUST) |
6. | Mr. Jeremiah Kabaghe | Member | Private Practice Pharmacist |
Medical Devices Sub-Committee
The Medical Devices Sub-Committee has been established in accordance with Section 17 (d) of the PMRA Act, No. 9 of 2019 to advise the Authority in all matters relating to the regulation of Medical Devices.
The Medical Devices Sub-Committee meets quarterly and the current members of the Sub-Committee are as listed in the table below:
No. | Name | Title | Institution/ Organisation |
1. | CHSU | Chairperson | Ministry of Health – Public Health Lab. |
2. | Mrs. Flossy Lombola | Member | Board Member |
3. | Dr. Baxter Kachingwe | Member | Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) |
4. | Ms. Jane Chirwa | Member | John Hopkins |
5. | MUST Rep. | Member | Malawi University of Health Sciences (MUST) |
6. | Mr. Jeremiah Kabaghe | Member | Private Practice Pharmacist |