Uganda bans Indian drug supplier

By Anne Mugisa

The National Drug Authority (NDA) has temporarily banned 67 medicines from Flamingo, an Indian-based pharmaceutical company, because they were found to be substandard.

The affected medicines include anti-fungals, anti-malarials, steroids, vitamin supplements, painkillers, dewormers and antibiotics, which are the majority on the list, valued at over sh2.5b.

Experts say the substandard medicines could result in drug-resistant disease strains, which could be passed on to other people. 

In a letter dated July 25, 2012, the NDA executive director, Gordon Sematiko, stated that Flamingo Pharmaceuticals did not comply with the good manufacturing practice. 

He explained that a decision to suspend the drugs was taken following evidence and guidance from experts.

Sematiko said the action was prompted by persistent clinical complaints. 

He said investigations were done here and at the pharmaceutical premises in Mumbai, India before the suspension. 

“We have quarantined the drugs. This means that those who have them cannot sell or distribute them until further notice,” Sematiko said. 

He said that if they are found to be bad, the NDA will order their recall and either ask the manufacturer to take them or have them destroyed here at the manufacturer’s cost.

According to him, Flamingo has appealed to the NDA board to present its case on Thursday. 

He said the drugs in question are in warehouses and pharmacies throughout the country where the NDA quarantined them. He explained that if anyone attempts to sell them, they would be caught because the NDA took their inventory. 

He said that more tests on the drugs are still being carried out. So far, he said one of the drugs, hydrocortisone, has been found to be bad and the NDA has ordered its recall.