Staff Reporter
THE Minister of Health and Social Services, Esperanza Luvindao, has said that she has written a letter to the Anti-Corruption Commission to initiate an investigation into irregularities in the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council, after allegations surfaced regarding the sale of unlicensed medicines and theft of medication.
The minister made these remarks in response to questions raised by the president of the Affirmative Repositioning (AR) political party, Job Amupanda, in Parliament.
“My urgent oral question goes to the Minister of Health. Number one, it is a fact that illegal importation of medicine is taking place in our country. Not only yesterday, or last month — it is happening today. It is not only quinine. A particular medicine came through via Walvis Bay illegally and unlawfully,” Amupanda questioned.
He further questioned why there is no legal practitioner on the council of the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council, adding that a member who had been appointed by the council had resigned because of the council’s alleged unlawful conduct.
“It is a fact that no legal practitioner was appointed. It is also a fact that medicine was stolen from Central Medical Stores and sold back to the same stores. The thieves are in America enjoying themselves,” Amupanda said.
He added that part of the unlawfully imported medicines belonged to companies of members of the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council.
“They attend council meetings and do not make a single declaration that these are their businesses. What are you waiting for with a council that allows for the illegal importation of medicine? A council that sits on reports for two years. The health of our people is in peril — it is not politics,” Amupanda said.
In response, the Health Minister indicated that she has penned a letter to the Director General of the ACC to investigate the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), which is responsible for regulating medicines and related substances in Namibia.
“Serious allegations of contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act of 2003 have been raised. We wrote this letter to address and investigate the matter further. This includes the sale of unregistered medicines and unauthorized entry of medicines. Allegations have been raised that there is a medication syndicate operating within the Ministry of Health and Social Services, where medication is stolen either en route to facilities or from Central Medical Stores and then sold back to the ministry. It is alleged that perpetrators are working with employees within the ministry’s Central Medical Stores or NMRC. It is also alleged that emergency procurement is used as a tool for theft. Emergency procurement is meant for urgent needs, but the same medicine is allegedly sold back to the ministry,” Luvindao said in the letter she wrote to the ACC.
