- Ministry of Health introduces national pharmaceutical authentication system
GRACE CHAILE
Lusaka
THE Ministry of Health will introduce a national pharmaceutical authentication and traceability system on Monday next week to curtail counterfeit medicines and curb the theft and illegal sale of government drugs.
The system will require medicines produced locally or imported into Zambia to carry specially designed security labels, allowing them to be authenticated and tracked throughout the supply chain.
According to a notice issued by Minister of Health Roma Chilengi, the system will be implemented in collaboration with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) to protect patients from falsified, substandard and expired medicines.
It will also help prevent government medicines from being diverted into private markets.
“The system protects patients from falsified, substandard and expired medicines, and stops the theft and diversion of government medicines into the private market,” the notice states.
Two types of security labels will be introduced: blue labels for medicines sold in the private sector and red labels for government medicines, marked “Property of the Ministry of Health, Not for Sale”.
The notice warns that government medicines bearing red security labels and found on sale will be treated as stolen property.
Each label will feature a unique two-dimensional barcode and serial number linked to information like the product name, batch number and expiry date.
Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, distributors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health facilities will be required to register with ZAMRA, train relevant personnel and ensure medicines supplied to consumers carry the appropriate labels.
New imported consignments and batches released by local manufacturers must bear valid security labels from February 1, 2027.
However, stakeholders have until April 30, 2027 to label existing stocks or remove them from the supply chain.
“There shall be no exceptions and no extension beyond 30th April 2027,” the notice states.
From May 1, 2027, medicines without valid security labels will not be accepted, distributed, sold, dispensed or supplied in Zambia.
Non-compliant medicines risk seizure and destruction in accordance with the law, while outlets could face licence suspensions, revocations or closure.
Individuals involved in stealing or trading government medicines, or dealing in counterfeit or tampered security labels, could also face investigation and prosecution.
Members of the public have been urged to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised health facilities, check security labels and verify them using a free mobile application.
The system will operate under the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013 and applicable traceability standards. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
