Replaced paracetamol not expired

THE Southern Africa Students and Youth Development Association (SASYDA) has clarified that the paracetamol that was recalled by ZAMRA was not expired but the drugs were only recalled because some batches failed the appearance test.

Association President, Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba, said following various reports on the issue, SASYDA took upon itself to check the facts where it was discovered that the paracetamol was recalled because of discolouring and not being expired.

“SASYDA would like to clarify that the paracetamol that was recalled by ZAMRA was not expired. After checking the facts, it has been established that actually the reason the paracetamol was recalled was because some batches failed the appearance test hence some tablets were discolouring,” he said.

He said the occurrence was not extraordinary because in the last one year, ZAMRA had confirmed that it recalled 4000 different products from different suppliers.

“The good news is that the supplier honeybee has adhered to the rules and regulations of the regulator and replaced the entire consignment of paracetamol, “he said.

This week, Honeybee Pharmacy replaced 19, 900 of 500mg tablets of paracetamol that it supplied to Government worth $700, 000, after it was awarded a $17 million contract to supply Health Centre medical kits to the Ministry of Health.

According to a delivery note dated December 15, 2020, Honeybee Pharmacy delivered 19,900 of 500mg tablets of Panadol to Medical stores as replacement for the tablets BP 500mg batch numbers PPYP- 03 and PPYP-04 manufactured by Prashi Pahrma Pvt Limited of India.

In September, ZAMRA) director general Bernice Mwale ordered HoneyBee Pharmacy to recall all batches of Paracetamol tablets which it supplied to the Ministry of Health because the supplied medicine did not meet specifications.

HoneyBee was also directed.