A study by Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (Kuhes) and Pharmacy Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) shows that there is low reporting on side effects of some drugs in the country.

The report released on Wednesday in Blantyre shows that lack of knowledge, attitude and practice among both healthcare professionals and the public on adverse drug reaction (ADR) compels the country to have an unclear picture on patients that were harmed due to drugs uptake.

Patients wait to receive prescribed medicines at a hospital pharmacy

Out of 89 healthcare professionals that participated in the study in Blantyre, Lilongwe, Zomba, Mangochi, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nsanje and Rumphi, about 17 percent were able to detect ADR. But the situation improved six months later to about 47 percent after they underwent a training on detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of adverse effect of any other drug related problems called pharmacovigilance.

On the other hand, the ability to report ADR was at 8 percent before improving to 39 percent after the training.

In an interview after presenting the findings, Kuhes lecturer in pharmacy department Frida Chimimba said there is need to raise awareness on the importance of reporting suspected side effects of drugs to health authorities.

She said: “What we are lacking is the reporting side, because after managing, there is need to report to the Pharmacy Medicines Regulatory Authority.

“If one person is harmed by a particular drug, and that person reports, then that person will influence the change and then will prevent other people from harm by that drug or vaccine.”

Chimimba, who is also PMRA board chairperson, further stressed the need for PMRA to work with herb medicine manufacturers to assess their products through scientific methods to establish actual conditions they cure and their side effects.

In an interview, Consumers Association of Malawi administration officer Indota Mpatama hailed Kuhes and PMRA for presenting their findings on the study, saying her organisation has been receiving complaints on counterfeit medicines.

“So, we need massive awareness from the medical professionals to the end-user. So we are going to enhance awareness campaigns out there.”

Besides Chimimba, other researchers were Francis Chiumia and Nettie Dzanala from Kuhes, Cecilia Sambakunsi, a student and Anderson Ndalama from PMRA.

In February this year Kuhes also released a study that showed that a quarter of the country’s drugs for bacterial infections and high blood pressure fall below standard.

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