Solwezi: Medicines regulatory agency arrests 14 for operating unregistered pharmacies

Fourteen people of Solwezi District in North-Western Province have been arrested for operating unregistered pharmacies in the District.

Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) Public Relations Officer, Ludovic Mwape, said the charge was contrary to section 14 (1) of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013.

Mwape said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.

“This followed an operation that was conducted by ZAMRA in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Zambia Police Service in Solwezi Districts on 22nd July 2023,” he said.

Mwape said the operation was aimed at curbing the increasing illegal trade in medicines and allied substances in the Zambian market.

He said the outlets were mapped during the sensitization programme that was conducted prior to the operation.

“The suspects have since been released on police bond and will appear in court soon.
We wish to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that only registered pharmaceutical outlets are operational,” Mwape said.

He said this was important in ensuring that members of the public are only exposed to safe, quality and efficacious medicinal products and allied substances.

“Failure by all pharmaceutical outlets in adhering to the set standards as regards to the sale of medicines and allied substances will result in offenders being prosecuted,” Mwape said.

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