‘TOXIC’ DRUG WITHDRAWN

…for causing severe headaches and vomiting when taken – MoH

THE Ministry of Health has withdrawn Gentamed, an antibiotic which was ordered from Kenya but made by a Chinese company CSPC OUYI Pharmaceutical Company Limited, after people who took the drug suffered severe headaches and vomiting. Ministry of Health spokesperson Abel Kabaso has confirmed the withdrawal of the antibiotic but rubbished reports that deaths were recorded in some parts of the country as a result of the same medicine.

“The medicine was ordered from Kenya, but there are no deaths recorded,” he said.

Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Kennedy Malama said in a statement yesterdays that the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) received reports of severe headache and vomiting from various facilities across the country following the administration of gentamycin sulphate batch number S MD180107 and 180108.

Dr Malama directed all the institutions to quarantine the said batch in order to allow the authority to carry out further investigations.

He advised that health institutions would be guided on the next steps after investigations were concluded.

“The Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority has received reports of adverse reactions [such as] severe headache and vomiting from various health facilities across the country following the administration of the above stated product.

“In this regard, the ministry directs all institutions to quarantine the stated batches, with immediate effect, in order to allow the Authority to carry out further investigations,” he said.