By: Kabinah Kaba
MONROVIA – In an ongoing effort to curb the influx and distribution of unsafe medicines across Liberia, the Liberia Medicines & Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA), through its Post-Market Surveillance Unit, has ramped up inspection activities in Monrovia and neighboring counties.
A statement from the LMHRA said, the team focused its efforts on pharmacies in Paynesville and various parts of Margibi County, aiming to identify and eliminate Substandard and Falsified medicines threatening public health.
Led by Dr. Martu K. Fayiah Nyanti, the PMS Manager, the inspection campaigns involved thorough targeted raids on various outlets and street peddlers.
“These operations according to LMHRA uncovered troubling evidence of illegal sales practices, including the distribution of Substandard & Falsified medicines that failed to meet safety and quality standards, the statement said.
The LMHRA said the inspection, which is an unannounced routine process of the LMHRA, is a robust regulatory oversight across the country, geared towards protecting the citizenry from the dangers associated with SF medicines.
“As a result of these inspections, a significant quantity of SF medicines was confiscated. The seized items will be incinerated at the LMHRA’s King’s Farm incineration site in Careysburg, outside Monrovia”.
According to the release the operation also served as an educational campaign, raising public awareness about the serious health risks posed by substandard and falsified medicines risks such as treatment failure, drug resistance, and potential harm or death.
The operation underscores the importance of health regulators, and community stakeholders to combat the proliferation of dangerous medicines that’s according to the LMHRA.
Meanwhile The LMHRA has expressed its commitment to strengthening its regulatory framework and enforcement capacity to protect the health of all Liberians from substandard medicinal products and ensure a safer pharmaceutical environment nationwide.
