AfricaPress-Tanzania: TANZANIA Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) in Mbeya Region has seized a consignment of expired medicines and medical devices valued at 7.7m/-.
The swoop conducted yesterday at a house in Igawilo area of Mbeya City also saw the Authority impounding rubber stamps used to change expiry dates on the packages of the medicines and medical devices.
The operation leading to the seizure was led by the Acting TMDA manager for Southern Highlands Zone Anitha Mshighati in collaboration with the police.
Mshighati said they received tip from some good citizens on the existence of the items at the house that were being sold despite having been expired.
“The medicines and medical devices seized included those supplied by the government and which expired, but the expired dates were extended by printing new dates on the packages,” said Mshighati.
She named the medicines and medical devices seized included antibiotics, syringes and stitching threads, anti-malarial drugs and acids that were government supplied but whose labels had been erased.
She added that the court will decide on the punishment to be meted out to the offender, whose identity was not disclosed, and to where he will be referred after investigations were complete.
In regard to import and sale of expired drugs, she said they continue with the special crackdown in Songwe and Mbeya regions and that they often work together with some good citizens who provide them with tips on places these drugs are sold.
She added that they are still making patrols at Tunduma and Kasumulu border areas to control imports of expired drugs while at the same time educating people to be watchful of such drugs.
For his part, Mwanyanje Street Chairman, Nessy Shitambala expressed his dismay seeing one of his residents being found with expired drugs.
He said the suspect has been selling t them medicines believing they were fit for human consumption.
