By OLIVER SAMBOKO
HONEYBEE pharmacy has replaced the expired 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, the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (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 to submit to the authority a detailed report of the recall process, to include the quantity of drugs imported and those supplied to health facilities.
Meanwhile, Southern Africa Students and Youth Development Association (SASYDA) has commended Honeybee Pharmacy for replacing the expired paracetamol it supplied to the Ministry of Health.
Association President, Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba said in an interview that it was sad that some people decided to politicize the issue when it was well known fact that Honeybee Pharmacy did not supply the damaged drugs intentionally. He said it was normal in business and once the defects are noticed the supplier is required to replace and normalize like the case between the Ministry of health and Honeybee.
“The lies, slander and misguided propaganda stories against Honeybee Pharmacy in the procurement process for the alleged substandard drugs was regrettable and unfortunate, considering that this was a wholly owned Zambian company,” he said.
Mr Mwamba said Honeybee Pharmacy was duly awarded the US$17 million contract for the supply of Health Centre Kits under the Ministry of Health, through a competitive tendering process and wondered why other people decided to politicize the matter.
