NDA Faces Probe Over Fake Drugs
The Inspector General of Government, Jotham Tumwesigye, has ordered investigations into the operations of the National Drug Authority and circumstances under which fake drugs were imported into the country,
The Inspector General of Government, Jotham Tumwesigye, has ordered investigations into the operations of the National Drug Authority and circumstances under which fake drugs were imported into the country, reports Emmy Allio.
Among issues to be investigated are the importation last year by Radium Pharmaceuticals of 18 batches of fake aspirins and three containers of anti-malarial drugs.
Sources said on being tested, the aspirins imported from Agong Pharma in India reportedly failed the mandatory administrative dissolution tests. The NDA recommended the aspirins be re-exported since its use posed a serious health hazard.
Medical sources said the aspirin is acidic and if swallowed, would fail to dissolve and corrode the intestines, causing severe internal bleeding.
The Uganda Revenue Authority is still holding three containers of the anti-malarial injectables, Radigenta and Radichlor injectables.
Despite the de-registration of the drugs in Uganda and issuance by URA of an imported Goods Rejection Report, Dr. Erisa Owino, the NDA board member and head of Pharmacy Department at Makerere University, went ahead to test the drugs in attempt to reportedly justify its use in the country. Owino was last October quizzed over unprofessional conduct.
The anti-malarials were from an unlicensed pharmaceutical factory in Ningbo in China, which according to an earlier NDA report, failed to meet the Good Manufacturing Practise (GMP) tests; a production standard set by the World Health Organisation.
The IGG recently announced the start of the probe during a meeting with NDA commission and head of NDA Drug Quality Laboratory, Atanasius Kakwemeire, whose expulsion by NDA bosses has led to the IGG’s intervention.
Ends
Among issues to be investigated are the importation last year by Radium Pharmaceuticals of 18 batches of fake aspirins and three containers of anti-malarial drugs.
Sources said on being tested, the aspirins imported from Agong Pharma in India reportedly failed the mandatory administrative dissolution tests. The NDA recommended the aspirins be re-exported since its use posed a serious health hazard.
Medical sources said the aspirin is acidic and if swallowed, would fail to dissolve and corrode the intestines, causing severe internal bleeding.
The Uganda Revenue Authority is still holding three containers of the anti-malarial injectables, Radigenta and Radichlor injectables.
Despite the de-registration of the drugs in Uganda and issuance by URA of an imported Goods Rejection Report, Dr. Erisa Owino, the NDA board member and head of Pharmacy Department at Makerere University, went ahead to test the drugs in attempt to reportedly justify its use in the country. Owino was last October quizzed over unprofessional conduct.
The anti-malarials were from an unlicensed pharmaceutical factory in Ningbo in China, which according to an earlier NDA report, failed to meet the Good Manufacturing Practise (GMP) tests; a production standard set by the World Health Organisation.
The IGG recently announced the start of the probe during a meeting with NDA commission and head of NDA Drug Quality Laboratory, Atanasius Kakwemeire, whose expulsion by NDA bosses has led to the IGG’s intervention.
Ends