Media Reports on Medicines Quality - US Pharmacopeial Convention

Uganda
Antiretrovirals (TT-
VIR 30)
Antimalarials–
Amodiaquine,
sulfadoxinepyromethamine,
Coartem
Enzoy (aphrodisiac)
antimalarial, is being sold on the market. TFDA found 155
containers of the fake drugs in Dar es Salaam and one in Moshi.
TFDA stated that 1,257 medicine samples have been screened
with Minilabs® under their post-marketing surveillance
programs from 2007 to February 2012. Out of those samples,
1,211 complied with quality specifications, while 46 (2.7%)
failed. This represents a significant drop from the 13% failure
rates in 2002.
Counterfeit antiretrovirals (TT-VIR 30) were discovered on the
market and recalled by the TFDA.
The National Drug Authority has recently tested 237 samples of
antimalarials and found all to be genuine. The samples were
collected from hospitals, pharmacies, and drug shops.
Three people were arrested in Jinja for allegedly selling
counterfeit drugs. Police and medical experts from Kampala
conducted a crack-down, sweeping pharmacies on Main Street
and Nizam Road. 78 packets of counterfeit Enzoy – an
aphrodisiac banned in Uganda – were confiscated.
The National Drug Authority, URA, and police have impounded
counterfeit medicinal products worth millions of shillings. Only
two of the 40 pharmacies sampled during the operation did not
have counterfeit products.
According to a report by the Eastern Uganda Drug Inspector,
many drug outlets sell illegal or expired drugs and are run by
unqualified staff: 81% in Soroti, 78% in Tororo, 72% in
Bukedea, 67.2% in Kumi, 65% in Katakwi, 60% in Mbale, 61%
in Busia, and 36% in Nakapiripirit.
A joint operation carried out by INTERPOL and the National
Drug Authority discovered 200 cartons of fake drugs in central
Feb 23, 2012. Available at: www.dailynews.co.tz
Accessed Feb 27, 2012
Tambwe, M. Tanzania: State keen to curb
counterfeit drugs. All Africa. Jul 12, 2012.
Available at: www.allafrica.com Accessed Jul 12,
2012
Mulemwa. M. Ministry confirms market is awash
with fake AIDS drugs. The Citizen. Sep 22, 2012.
Available at: www.thecitizen.co.tz Accessed Sep
24, 2012
Nafula, J. Country Battles Problem of Counterfeit
Drugs. The Monitor. Sep 13, 2008. Available at:
www.allafrica.com Accessed: Sep 15, 2008
Three held over fake drugs. The New Vision.
September 30, 2008. Available at:
www.newvision.co.ug Accessed: Oct 1, 2008
Wandera, A., Bagala, A. Police impound fake
drugs, cosmetics. Daily Monitor. Oct 6, 2008.
Available at: www.monitor.co.ug Accessed: Oct
7, 2008
Mafabi, D. Soroti drug outlets sell expired drugs.
Monitor Online. June 25, 2009. Available at:
www.monitor.co.ug Accessed June 25, 2009
INTERPOL impounds 200 cartons of counterfeit
drugs in Uganda. Ultimate <strong>Media</strong>. Sep 4, 2009.
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