Govt recalls paracetamol

By NOEL IYOMBWAGOVERNMENT through the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has ordered Honeybee Pharmacy to recall paracetamol tablets which were manufactured by Prashi Pharma of India.ZAMRA said the paracetamol tablets batch numbers PPYP-03 and PPYP-03 were analyzed at the national drug quality control laboratory and were found out of specification with response to appearance.This is contained in a letter from ZAMRA to Honeybee and signed by Director-General Bernice Mwale.The letter stated that Honeybee should urgently recall all batches of the paracetamol tablets BP 500 mg from circulation within 14 days.“You are further required to submit to the authority a detailed report recall process which should include the quality of the products imported and quantity collected from various health facilities.“You are also instructed to notify the manufacturer of the product to investigate and provide feedback on the product defect and corrective and preventive actions put in place to avoid occurrence of such a defect in the future.He expressed hope that the recalling of medicines would be done in no time adding that the exercise was a normal process in the pharmaceutical sector.“The authority wishes to inform you that it will closely monitor the recall to ensure that the products are completely removed from circulation in the interest of public health,” read the letter.