Vongai Masuka

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has issued a public health alert regarding the circulation of falsified Cloxacillin 250mg capsules.

These counterfeit drugs, which are being illicitly distributed, pose a threat to public health due to their potential inefficacy, harmful components, and the risk of fostering antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

The authority has identified that the falsified capsules are being passed off as legitimate products manufactured by Varchem Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd.

Investigations have revealed Gurtas Investments as one of the unauthorized sources for these dangerous counterfeits.

“This falsified product poses a significant threat to public health due to the potential for lack of efficacy, harmful components, and the risk of treatment failure in the treatment of bacterial diseases, leading to antimicrobial resistance (AMR),” stated P. Rukwata, Director-General of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, in a statement.

In response to this urgent discovery, the MCAZ has directed all licensed pharmacies, wholesalers, public and private clinics, and hospitals to immediately quarantine any units of the falsified Cloxacillin 250mg capsules in their possession. These quarantined units must be submitted to the Authority for proper disposal by August 1, 2025.

MCAZ has also advised the general public who may have purchased these falsified Cloxacillin capsules to return them to the pharmacy where they were obtained.