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Headlines
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Written by Claudia Smith
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Thursday, 10 January 2013 00:00 |
LMHRA has stated that it will perform all necessary measures to stop fake medicines and unregistered pharmacies from operating or being sold on the Liberian market.
As of January 1, 2013, a memorandum has been distributed to various venues where medications are known to be sold, stating that each distributor must obtain a receipt clarifying where they acquire their medicine supply from.
Mr. David Sumo, the Managing Director of Liberia Medicine and Heath Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) has made it clear that the national medicine supply system wants to make sure that safe, effective and good quality medicines reach the Liberian public.
“We want to make sure that products are healthy and not harmful to those who are going to be taking them.” he added. Mr. Sumo also noted that the registration process of medicines and health products have been in progress with the Pharmaceutical Board of Liberia, ”in fact we will be going on ground to various pharmacy and venues alike to check for proof of registration, anyone found selling without authorization will be penalized” he said.
In addition to the control of imports, exports and transits of medicines, Mr. Sumo states that anyone wanting to register will have to come along with a sample of their products that will enable LMHRA to do its post market surveillances.
In partnership with other countries, LMHRA has told this paper that they are in collaboration with other Medicine control units that will give them the necessary networking and information that they will need to keep informed and connected with other agencies in the region,” we are working close with Nigeria and Ghana” Mr. Sumo added
LMHRA described the differences in medications, thus adding that over the counter (OTC) drugs such as aspirin and Advil do not need to be registered, “ The board will be the ones to determine what over the counter drugs are considered (OTC), its not for the distributor to decide” he clarified.
Mean while, those given permission to sell OTC drugs will have to provide a list of the drugs that they are selling, “we have our own list of allowed OTC drugs that can be sold, anything out of our list will not be allowed to be sold by the distributor.” He added.
“It is important for us to know what is being sold in the market and who is selling what. Make sure that if you are buying drugs, keep an invoice of what you are selling because inspections will be held soon”” Mr. Sumo concluded. |
