• All uncertified drugs should be removed from the Zambian market.

• There is increased usage of suspected but medically unapproved COVID 19 drugs.

• Traditional remedies can be used as additional solutions.

Minister of Health Dr. Jonas Chanda has directed the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) to withdraw any product on the Zambian market that has not been certified by the regulatory body.

Speaking when he toured Maina Solo Medical Centre, Dr. Jonas Chanda says he is aware of the increased usage of suspected COVID 19 drugs that have not been medically approved.

“I have heard of Chinese medicines that are on the market which people are saying are curing or preventing Covid, ZAMRA should rise to the occasion to make sure that every medicine that is on the market is something that they have authorised,” He said.

“ZAMRA has to be directed that any product that is not licensed on the market has to be withdrawn with immediate effect.”

Dr. Chanda added that public confidence in the health sector has gone down and that it is the duty of the health authorities to restore back the confidence.

Meanwhile, the Health Minister has encouraged the use of local remedies in addition to the provisions that have been put in place by health authorities such as masking up, sanitizing, observing social distance, among others.

“This is what we have always used before Western medication came in,” Dr Chanda added.

He says the local and traditional remedies should not be taken as substitutes for the normal health guidelines but as additional solutions to help the fight against the virus.