Fake medicines pose big threat

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

Jacob Hassan was diagnosed with malaria. The medic prescribed three tablets of Metakelfin to be taken at once and three others after a week. Jacob lives at Mbagala Kibondemaji on the outskirts of Dar es Salaam City.

As the medical facility had ran out of the tablets then, the patient decided to purchase the dose from a pharmacy in the vicinity. Little did he know that the purported medicine he had bought was actually paracetamol.

The malaria persisted. Ramadhani Daniel, who stays in Kibaha, Coast region, was another patient found with dry cough and was directed to take two capsules of ampicillin three times a day for five days. He proceeded to buy the medicine from a pharmacy at Mbezi where he works.

The cough did not subside even after taking the drug for the stated period. It was found later that the capsules did not contain ampicillin but potato starch. The health of both patients was put to great risk.

COUNTERFEIT MEDICINES IN TANZANIA
In August 1999, fake Metakelfin labeled as a genuine product from the original manufacturer, Pharmacia and Upjohn, was found in circulation in some pharmacies in the country.

Laboratory analysis confirmed that the counterfeit Metakelfin actually contained paracetamol and the public was alerted. In May 2000, counterfeit Ampicillin capsules (250mg) were found circulating in some retail pharmacies.

Laboratory analysis confirmed the capsules contained potato starch. In June 2001, expired Chloroquine Injection (from an unregistered Indian company) was relabeled as Quinine Dihydrochloride Injection 600mg/2ml from a company in Cyprus.

In January 2005, fake Gentrisone Cream (a product of Shin Poong, South Korea) was reported. In this case, the active ingredient was replaced with hand and body lotion, and again the public was alerted as well as withdrawing the product from the market.

EXPERIENCE OF FOOD AND DRUGS AUTHORITY

The Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority is worried and suspects that counterfeit and substandard medicines are in circulation alongside approved quality medicines, posing a serious public health problem.

A TFDA official says: This is a problem that affects both developed and developing countries. We have experienced a number of cases, and we have taken a number of steps to address these challenges, although more needs to be done.

Adds the official: Counterfeits contain arbitrary and unpredictable compositions that can be dangerous to the unsuspecting patients.

Some of the counterfeits are without active ingredients, while others might contain active ingredients but wrong in amount or quality.

Counterfeiting is a vice that threatens everybody, including manufacturers, importers, distributors, drug inspectors, dispensers, policemen, customs officers, judges, advocates, their families and friends! It undermines the credibility of health and pharmaceutical supply systems.

The World Health Organization estimates the global pharmaceutical market size at US$ 500bn (WHO, 2006) with counterfeit medicines accounting for 10 percent of that.

ROBLEMS IN COMBATING FAKES
Experts contend that Tanzania faces weak enforcement capacities because of inadequate number of inspectors.

It also lacks appropriate knowledge, skills and experience to detect, confiscate or investigate suspects of counterfeit medicines.

Low incentives for law enforcers who must confront unscrupulous dealers and little cooperation between stakeholders facilitate escape of detection, arrest and penal sanctions, said one expert.

In the case of the counterfeit Metakelfin (1999) and ampicillin (2000) the manufacturers were not taken to task although the courts ordered the closure of the pharmacies that sold the fake drugs.

Weak legislation can facilitate counterfeit trade. The former drug law in Tanzania, the Pharmaceuticals and Poisons Act, 1978; provided for a fine of not more than US$ 4! The current

SOURCE: Sunday Observer

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

Wakuu kwa mtindo huu basi tumekwisha maana naona soko la Tanzania limeengiliwa kabisa. Huwa najiuliza kuona viduka vingi vya madawa kule Dar (sijui hali yasasa). Hivi kweli vimesajiliwa na vinapataje lesseni? na kama vimesajiliwa nani anavimonitor kuanzia ubora wa dawa hadi qualification za wafanyakazi?

Hii ni hatari sana maana huku tunakoishi sisi huwezi kununua dawa kama hujaandikiwa na dakitari labda pain killer. Lakini Bongo ukitaka hata anti nini sijui unapata tena unakuta muuzaji hajui lolote kuhusu mambo ya medicine.

 

[YNIM]

welcome to the real world, hata huku West wagonjwa wanaingizwa King kila siku........lakini bongo ni noma!!. Nimeona hapa USA case za prostate cancer toka bongo watu walikuwa wanapewa dawa za BPH, nikauliza baadhi ya Drs bongo ambao ni washkaji wakanijua juu kwamba najifanya kama sijua fwacts kwa kuwa nimekaa magharibi kwa muda mrefu. Kwa taarifa yako kuna maabara uchochoroni bongo zinatengeneza na kuvurumisha sokoni dawa "dizaini" ya gongo!!! nadhani umenielewa. Ndio maana wakina sisi tukaingia mitini, maana ethics haipo kabisa........watu wanaangalia bottomline and bottomline only.

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

welcome to the real world, hata huku West wagonjwa wanaingizwa King kila siku........lakini bongo ni noma!!. Nimeona hapa USA case za prostate cancer toka bongo watu walikuwa wanapewa dawa za BPH, nikauliza baadhi ya Drs bongo ambao ni washkaji wakanijua juu kwamba najifanya kama sijua fwacts kwa kuwa nimekaa magharibi kwa muda mrefu. Kwa taarifa yako kuna maabara uchochoroni bongo zinatengeneza na kuvurumisha sokoni dawa "dizaini" ya gongo!!! nadhani umenielewa. Ndio maana wakina sisi tukaingia mitini, maana ethics haipo kabisa........watu wanaangalia bottomline and bottomline only.

Mkuu hiyo ni noma. Mimi huku mashariki ya Mbali nchi ninayoishi inaethic mno kupita kiasi. Yeah kweli bongo kila mtu anaishi kwa ujanja wake. Jamaa alikuwa ananiaambia hata pombe za Konyagi kibao ni google na ukija kwenye cosmetics ndio balaa. Mungu atullinde maana hii ni hatari. Unajua ligal system yetu iko yaajabu sana. jamaa wa Fair competition ananiambia sisi hatuna uwezo wa kukamata au kukagua bidhaa madukani. Ikishapita bandarini hata kama ni feck ndio basi tena. TBS nao ni butu ile mbaya.

 

[YNIM]

Ndio hapo sasa, kwa mfano case ya mwandishi G. Mhando aliyevuta wiki ilopita......huku kuna protocol za kihospitali za ku-deal na MI yaani ni EKG, Cardiac Enzymes then mgonjwa anachapwa na MONA(Morphine,Oxygen Nasal Cannula or whatever, Nitros na Asprin).....hiyo itasaidia ku-stabilize wakati watu wanaangalia opts nyingine. Yes, watu wanakufa lakini sio kienyeji kama inavyotokea kwetu. Bongo bwana, matatizo ni mengi sana na kila mtu ni msanii!!.

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

ni wengi sana mkuu wanapoteza maisha kwa sababu ya usanii wa Bongo. Na I am sure vifo vinavyotokana vinavyozuilika ni vingi kupita kiasi bongo na yote hii ni kwa uzembe. Viongozi wetu wao hawana shida bwana kwani wao si wanapelekwa nnje ya nnchi kwa matibabu? akishikwa mafua anapelekwa Hindumandal au Agakani sisi akina kapuku tutajiju. Procedure za hopitali sijui kumuona DK unalipa, kuandikiwa kadi unalipa, unanunua hata karatasi ya kukuandikia, ununue kakiberiti kakupima choo. Bado hujakutana na manesi watakaokuangalia kama vile unawatia kichefuchefi. Mbaya zaidi uwe ni mwalimu au mtumishi wa umma ambaye unatumia bima ya afaya nakuambia utakoma madharau.

Hii ndio inafanya watu wengi wasiende hospitali na matokeo ywake wananunua dawa vichochoroni. Na kucreate soko kubwa la dawa mitaani maana kila mtu sasa ni docta yeye mwenyewe.

 

[YNIM]

right on........utashangaa thread kama hii haitachangiwa sana kwasababu si ya kisiasa ingawa ni issue nyeti sana...........mie naingia Ma-monday kwenye EST, have a nice day na endelea kutuleta nyeti kama hizi!!.

 

[Gamba la Nyoka]

Kuna dawa zinatoka India, hizi dawa nina wasiwasi nazo sana.

Kuna dawa ya typhoid inaitwa ciprofloxacin ya india hii inapaswa kuchunguzwa kwa makini isije kuwa kanya boya.

Ciprofloxacin ya ujerumani hiyo babu kubwa kwanza dozi yake ni nusu ya ile ya india, ila bei ni mara mbili ya ile ya india.

 

[Mtoto wa Mkulima]

right on........utashangaa thread kama hii haitachangiwa sana kwasababu si ya kisiasa ingawa ni issue nyeti sana...........mie naingia Ma-monday kwenye EST, have a nice day na endelea kutuleta nyeti kama hizi!!.

Mkuu poa sana haina shida. Ni kweli mada kama hii ni muhimu sana najua hapa kunawataalamu wengi sana wa mambo haya ya medical. Sisi wengine tutatoa mchango general tuu japo si wa kitaalamu. Jumatatu njema mkuu YIM.

 

[Gigo]

mmmm! Gigo Think twice!!

 

[DAR si LAMU]

TBS nao ni butu ile mbaya.

..kazi hii ni ya tanzania drugs and food authority -tdfa!

..wanaenda kwa kujikokota!si unajua tena kazi yao haitofautiani sana na takukuru[kupambana na vigogo wa biashara za madawa si kazi ndogo!]ila wanajitahidi kidogo!

..ila awareness ya watanzania kwenye issues za madawa ni ndogo!kwa mfano chukulia dawa zitokazo china zilivyokaa kimtegomtego!kama ulifuatilia makala moja cnn iliyoitwa "made in china"!

 

[YNIM]

..kazi hii ni ya tanzania drugs and food authority -tdfa!

..wanaenda kwa kujikokota!si unajua tena kazi yao haitofautiani sana na takukuru[kupambana na vigogo wa biashara za madawa si kazi ndogo!]ila wanajitahidi kidogo!

..ila awareness ya watanzania kwenye issues za madawa ni ndogo!kwa mfano chukulia dawa zitokazo china zilivyokaa kimtegomtego!kama ulifuatilia makala moja cnn iliyoitwa "made in china"!

Kwenye 'made in china'...walizungumzia dawa za kichina zilizoua watu Panama. Hata FDA hapa US nao wana-blunders kibao, kuna madawa ambayo yapo madukani for yrs na hayajakuwa official approved......ukiuliza utapewa maelezo kama mlima kilimanjoro, kisa politics unajua kwamba drug companies lobby ina nguvu kichizi in washington. Sasa fananisha FDA na hao TDFA, nadhani tupo pamoja!!!.

 

[Idimi]

welcome to the real world, hata huku West wagonjwa wanaingizwa King kila siku........lakini bongo ni noma!!. Nimeona hapa USA case za prostate cancer toka bongo watu walikuwa wanapewa dawa za BPH, nikauliza baadhi ya Drs bongo ambao ni washkaji wakanijua juu kwamba najifanya kama sijua fwacts kwa kuwa nimekaa magharibi kwa muda mrefu. Kwa taarifa yako kuna maabara uchochoroni bongo zinatengeneza na kuvurumisha sokoni dawa "dizaini" ya gongo!!! nadhani umenielewa. Ndio maana wakina sisi tukaingia mitini, maana ethics haipo kabisa........watu wanaangalia bottomline and bottomline only.

Bw mkubwa, hali ni mbaya kuliko tunavyodhani. Ni wiki chache tu zilizopita vyombo vya habari viliandika kuwa manesi na walinzi wa zahanati vijijini ndio hugeuka kuwa madaktari, pale ambapo madaktari hakuna. Inatisha! Sasa unapoongelea suala la dawa feki na usimamizi mijini kuwa mbovu, basi ujue hali huko Tanzania vijijini ni mbaya sana.

Kwa ujumla, taasisi ta TFDA (Food and Drugs Authority) ndio wasimamizi wakuu na watoa leseni za maduka ya dawa baridi na moto na ndio wanaotakiwa kuhakikisha kuwa maduka ya dawa na maabara zote zimesajiliwa, ikiwa ni pamoja na kuhakiki elimu za wafamasia na wauza dawa katika maduka na maabara.

Suala la kwa nini uharamia katika dawa unashamiri nadhani linahitaji thread ya kujitegemea hapa JF.
Vinginevyo tunakufa pole pole.