Malarial drug for infants recalled over potential treatment failure.

GOVERNMENT has recalled a drug used for the treatment of malaria in young children after it was discovered that the medicine contained less active ingredient than required.

Speaking while delivering a ministerial statement on the recall, Minister of Health Elijah Muchima said during routine surveillance, the drug was sampled from a registered pharmacy in Lundazi District, where it was found to be non-compliant.

He explained that the findings indicated the product contained a lower-than-required amount of the active ingredient, making it understrength.

“According to the International Pharmacopeia, the acceptable Assay range for this product is between 90.0 percent and 110.0 percent. In this case, the Assay result was an average of 79.1 percent, which falls below the required threshold, compromising the drug’s ability to treat or eradicate malaria parasites in the body. This could lead to treatment failure,” he said.

Dr Muchima further stated that no adverse effects are expected from the defect, aside from the risk of treatment failure.

(Mwebantu, Wednesday, 5th March, 2025)