“ZAMRA Strengthens Surveillance to Tackle Illegal Medicines”

 By Daily News Reporter

The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through a strengthened post-marketing surveillance system.

Speaking to Daily News in Lusaka, Mr Ludovic Katomtoka Mwape, Senior Public Relations Officer at Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), stated that the system employs routine inspections, market sampling, and intelligence-led investigations to detect and remove illegal and substandard medicines from circulation.

Mwape emphasized that while challenges persist in informal markets, ZAMRA’s surveillance teams have successfully seized numerous illegal products, safeguarding consumers from potential harm.

ZAMRA acknowledged that rural and underserved communities remain more vulnerable to unregistered medicines due to limited access to licensed pharmacies, weaker regulatory oversight, and lower public awareness. To address this, the authority has intensified outreach and inspection efforts, alongside community education programs designed to raise awareness about the dangers of unregistered medicines.

Concerns about potential shortages of essential drugs during crackdowns were addressed by Mwape, who explained that ZAMRA conducts thorough market assessments before enforcement actions. The authority works closely with legitimate manufacturers and distributors to ensure uninterrupted supply of registered medicines, and facilitates expedited registration and importation of critical drugs when necessary.

Zambia also maintains strong ties with neighboring countries through platforms such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and bilateral agreements. These partnerships enable intelligence sharing, joint operations, and harmonization of regulatory standards to curb cross-border trafficking of unregistered medicines.

Mr. Mwape concluded that ZAMRA’s collaborative and strategic approach is vital in tackling the transnational nature of illegal medicine trade while ensuring citizens have access to safe, effective, and legitimate medicines.

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