PRESIDENT Ali Mohamed Shein has raised concern over reports of increasing counterfeit medicines in the market and undue variations in drugs’ prices in pharmacies, consequently ordered the authorities to take immediate action.
“Media reports in recent days especially
on the availability of fake medicines are worrying. Some of the drugs
are being manufactured in hidden areas and people have also been
complaining about variations in prices.
This is unacceptable and must stop,” Dr
Shein said here at the opening of a new building that was constructed
for maternal and paediatric services at Mnazi Mmoja in Zanzibar.
It was learnt that according to the
World Health Organisation (WHO) definition, a counterfeit medicine is a
pharmaceutical product whose origin and/or identity specifications have
been deliberately and fraudulently modified.
He directed the Ministry of Health and ‘
Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS)’ to investigate and take action
against such people and ensure prices of basic drugs are controlled in
pharmacies.
“You should be keen to ensure the
practices, mainly in private hospitals and pharmacies are stopped
because it tarnishes the government’s image while providing better and
affordable health services to its people, and free maternal and child
care,” the president said as he also thanked development partners for
supporting the reconstruction of the building in the area
No comments :
Post a Comment