THE Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has issued a warning over the illegal circulation of unauthorised Goserelin Acetate (Zoladex) 10.8mg injections on the local market.
Goserelin Acetate (Zoladex) is a hormonal medicine commonly used in the treatment of prostate cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis and other hormone related conditions.
It works by reducing the amount of certain hormones in the body and is usually administered under strict medical supervision.
In a circular addressed to licensed pharmacies, wholesalers, health institutions and consumers Wednesday, MCAZ said the drug was being distributed through unapproved channels and was never formally imported into Zimbabwe.
“The product packaging contains Afrikaans language, which strongly suggests it was intended for another market and has been illegally diverted into Zimbabwe,” said MCAZ.
MCAZ warned that the unauthorised version poses a serious risk to patients relying on the drug for life-saving or long-term treatment.
MCAZ outlined key differences between the registered and unapproved products.
The authorised Zoladex has instructions written only in English, comes in blue-shaded packaging made of high-quality cardboard, and bears a Zimbabwean registration sticker with number 2016/9.5.2/5273 PP and details of the approved distributor, Sky Pharmaceuticals.
By contrast, the unauthorised product has instructions in both English and Afrikaans, purple-shaded packaging of visibly lower quality, and carries South African scheduling and registration details instead of Zimbabwean authorisation
The authority said it is investigating the source of the illegal injections and urged healthcare providers, patients and consumers to exercise caution when purchasing medicines.
“All approved wholesalers, licensed pharmacies, and public and private health facilities are instructed to immediately quarantine any units of the unapproved Zoladex injection in their possession and submit them to MCAZ for safe disposal,” the statement added.
Members of the public who may have bought the unauthorised injection were advised to return it to the pharmacy where it was obtained.
Zimbabwe has in recent years recorded a rise in the circulation of smuggled and counterfeit medicines, raising concerns over patient safety and the effectiveness of treatment, particularly for chronic and life-threatening conditions such as cancer.
