Medical body alerts public on fake Peni(V), PENM drugs smuggled from DRC

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has issued a red alert on the unregistered phenorymethylpenicillin suspension and tablets commonly known as Peni (V) on the market.

This unregistered Pen (V) is being smuggled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and have not been authorised to be placed on the Zambian market, alerts ZAMRA) director general Makomani Siyanga

Siyanga said some of these products detected on the market were Peni – V and PENM 125m9/5ml Oral suspensions, both coming in 60ml bottles.

He identified the manufactures as Phatkin, Kinshasa, DRC and Caisa Pharma International, Kingabwa/Limete, DRC, respectively.

Further, Siyanga disclosed that these products were not labelled in English as per authority regulatory requirement and were packaged in smaller unit packs of 60ml instead of the usual 100m1 bottles.

He has since warned that the authority would not hesitate to prosecute any pharmaceutical outlet which would be found stocking and selling these products to unsuspecting health facilities and members of the public for breach of terms and conditions of their Pharmaceutical licence or certificate of certificate registration.

“Phenoxymethylpenicillin is an essential antibiotic in our healthcare setting, therefore the authority wishes to advise the general public against the purchase and use of the said medicines as they may cause harm to the users including adverse events, treatment failure and antimicrobial resistance,” he said.

Siyanga also advised people who were in possession of the products to immediately return them to the supplier or in the case of patients the healthcare provider who should in turn notify ZAMRA and make arrangements for safe disposal of the products.

“If you suffer any adverse drug reaction/event after having used these products, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from any health facility or community pharmacy,” he said.