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The Choma Subordinate Court has convicted and fined a 32-year-old woman K20,000 for illegally advertising and selling medicines online.
Audrey Musokotwane of Kamunza Compound in Choma District was sentenced by Judge Albert Kamuji Mwaba to pay a K20,000 fine or, in default, serve nine months’ simple imprisonment.
Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) Public Relations Officer, Ludovic Katontoka Mwape, announced the conviction in a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday.
Musokotwane pleaded guilty to illegally selling and advertising medicines, contrary to sections 45 and 58(2)(a), respectively, of the Medicines and Allied Substances Act No. 3 of 2013.
According to facts presented before the court, Musokotwane was found advertising and selling unregistered medicines through her Facebook page.
Mwape said the medicines involved were C-4, containing Cyproheptadine HCl 4mg, and Dexarose, containing Dexamethasone 0.5mg tablets. Both products were advertised and sold for hip enlargement.
“We wish to reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that only registered medicines and allied substances are sold and advertised through legalized media platforms,” Mwape said.
He said the commitment was aimed at protecting the public from unsafe and unregistered medicines.
“This is important in ensuring that members of the public are exposed to safe, quality and efficacious medicines and allied substances,” he said.
Mwape urged members of the public to buy medicines and allied substances only from registered pharmacies, health shops and healthcare facilities.
He also advised the public to avoid purchasing medicines from unregistered sources and unverified online platforms, and to report suspected illegal sales or promotion of unregistered medicines to ZAMRA.
Mwape reiterated the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that only registered medicines and allied substances are sold and advertised through authorised platforms.
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