21 Oct 2019

 Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BOMRA) has cautioned Maun residents against use of unlicensed medicine.

Speaking at a recent road show in Maun, BOMRA chief executive officer, Dr Stephen Ghanie said the organisation was concerned about use of unlicensed medicine and accessibility of medicine without doctors’ prescription.

Dr Ghanie explained that BOMRA was set up by government under the Ministry of Health and Wellness in order  to regulate supply chain of medicine and related substances, cosmetics and medical devices in order to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy.

“We are concerned about consumers who do not register complementary medicines as this puts public health at the risk of illnesses as some do not know the negative effects of those medicines,” Dr Ghanie said.

He also pointed out that most of Batswana did not read and ask about the medicines which they consumed, hence ending up with a lot of health problems such as miscarriages for pregnant women as well as infertility.

“Some of the cosmetics sold in the streets are not laboratory tested and if applied in the skin some can cause cancerous diseases. Therefore, the public should always be alert more especially women,” he added.

He indicated that promoting and ensuring safe use of medicines containing codeine remained a public health issue given the rise in reporting of misuse and dependence particularly among young Batswana.

In order to deal with such issues, Dr Ghanie pointed out that they had engaged with different relevant stakeholders from public health, pharmaceuticals regulators and primary health care, in order to ensure patient awareness, raising public education and enforcement of the laws on regulation and importation of certain medicines in accordance with the Medicines and Related Substance Act MRA of 2013.

BOMRA public relations officer, Mr Israel Kgosidiile urged the public to register medicines with the authorities and report cases of illegal trade in order to promote safe use of medicines in Botswana.“I urge the medicine consumers to apply for trade licenses with BOMRA as it will conduct regular inspections and test if the products are good for human consumption,” Mr Kgosidiile said. ENDS