By: Nyima Sillah
The AKI Task Force, Report has, recommended that the Government permanently revoke the importation licence issued to Atlantic Pharmacy Company Limited and dismiss the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director of MCA and consider prosecuting them in line with the relevant laws.
The Task Force outlined this and more recommendations on Friday during the unveiling of the Report on the Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) outbreak that led to the death of at least seventy-three (73) children in The Gambia.
The report stated that the government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Health (MOH), should review the laws and regulations surrounding granting importation licences and instill stringent conditionality to ensure that importers are approved based on their qualifications operating with a sense of accountability and responsibility rather than being principally driven by profit.
The report also stated that in addressing conflict of interest, the MOH should, with immediate effect, make regulations or rules for the prevention and management of conflict of interest concerning staff or Board members of regulatory bodies under its purview and engaged in private business or practice.
“The Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Justice should forthwith explore the possibility of instituting legal action against Atlantic Pharmaceuticals, Maiden Pharmaceuticals, and the Government of India to seek redress on behalf of the families of the victims of the AKI outbreak. And also to
“Ensure that the MOH urgently facilitates the establishment of a fully operational National Medicines Quality Control Laboratory (NMQC Lab), as mandated by the Act as an interim measure, through the MOH, may seek technical support from the UN Family and National Medicines Regulatory Authorities (NMRAs) for Quality Control (QC) of medicines and related products,” the report recommended.
It continued in the report that “The Ministry of Finance, in consultation with the MOH and the National Assembly, should immediately allocate a specific percentage of internally generated funds by the MCA and facilitate its accessibility for utilisation towards the program-based budget.”
The AKI Task Force further recommended that the MCA should establish a fully functional Pharmacovigilance Department to include: a Medicines Safety Experts Committee, Regional Hospital Monitoring and Investigation Teams, and Focal Persons at the Regional Health Directorates and Health Facilities as required by the Regulation. Also, MCA, in partnership with UTG, AIUWA, EFSTH, Partners, and other NMRAs, should train Pharmacists and other personnel along the value chain.
“MCA should recruit students who have graduated from UTG in Biochemistry, Chemistry, and Biological sciences to strengthen its human resource capacity. The Government of The Gambia should refer the matter of Sait Kebbeh the Supervising Pharmacist for Atlantic Pharmacy to the Pharmacy Council for appropriate disciplinary action.
“The National Assembly should consider revising the budget of the MOH in relation to the financial appropriation to MCA and consider increment therein. The provision related to the Board of the MCA should be amended to include the Director of Health Services, the Head of the Department of Planning and Information, and a Principal State Counsel from the Ministry of Justice.
“The MCA Board should immediately ensure that the structure and mechanisms stipulated in the Strategic Plan are implemented. The Government through the Pharmacy Council, Ministry of Higher Education Research Science and Technology, and the University of The Gambia should prioritize the establishment of a School of Pharmacy at the University of The Gambia to cater to the growing demand for Pharmacists in the country.”
However, the report stated further that in the interim, the MOH through technical support and cooperation with new and existing partners, should address the dearth of the current Pharmacy cadre and the MCA should have a Legal Officer to provide legal guidance and/or advice to the Agency.
“The Office of the Secretary-General to review and address the issue of registered and licensed pharmacists who are currently employed by the Government while doubling as Supervising Pharmacists for private companies.
“Digitization is crucial for strengthening The Gambia’s drug supply chain. A centralised electronic database and mandatory electronic health records can improve the traceability and monitoring of medications, streamline contact tracing in cases of medicines-related incidents, and enhance cooperation and coordination among stakeholders. By adopting a digitized drug supply chain, The Gambia can ensure the safety and quality of medications while preventing future incidents.
“Medical and Dental Council and Pharmacy Council to regulate the conduct of medical and dental practitioners and pharmacists respectively. Cognizant of the gross negligence and abdication of duties by the MCA, the Government of The Gambia should, with immediate effect, dismiss the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director and consider prosecuting them in line with the relevant laws.”
