29 Nov 2022

Ministry of Health is concerned about some unlicensed drugs and medicines which are being sold in the streets.

Introducing Botswana Medicines Regulatory Authority (BoMRA) officers to the Bible Life Ministries Church in Orapa on Sunday, the Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe said some advertisements on such drugs were found to be misleading.

Mr Lelatisitswe however appealed to Batswana to report any fake drugs sold in the streets as they were not safe to be used, adding that the regulatory body was introduced to arrest such situations.

Updating the congregation on BoMRA mandate, Public Relations Officer Ms Itumeleng Ledimo said the regulatory body was established to ensure that all medicines and related substances used in Botswana were in conformity with established criteria of quality, safety and efficacy.

Ms Ledimo said their mission was to preach about the mandate of BoMRA to all churches in Botswana to help them report any medicines which were not certified with BOMRA.

‘’BoMRA facilitates the import and export controls of drugs in Botswana through the issuance of import and export permits,’’ she said.

BoMRA upholds standards for the regulatory functions value chain and adherence to best practice, she said.

The regulatory body, she added also ensured that health professionals and patients had the necessary information to enable them to use medicines rationally and also ensured that promotion and advertising were fair, balanced and aimed at rational drug use.

Ms Ledimo further noted that the objective of BoMRA aimed to give Botswana assurance, hope and trust that all medicines and products distributed, manufactured and used in Botswana were safe and of good quality. ENDS