Mbabane – A nine-member Medicines Regulatory Authority (MRA) board was appointed today by Health Minister Mduduzi Matsebula to monitor, control, and guarantee the efficacy, safety, and quality of medical products in the nation.
Speaking at a press conference at the Cooper Centre in Mbabane, Matsebula said the term of office for the board is five years.
The board members are Ms Nomsa Shongwe, Mr Clement J. Nhleko, Mr Sihle Gama, Dr Nontobeko Simelane, Dr Bongiwe Malinga, Dr Gugu Sibandze, Dr Thembinkosi Ndlangamandla, Mr Nkosinathi Manzini and Mr Tyrone Jacobs.
“In the term of office, a member of the authority shall hold office for a period not exceeding five years on such terms and conditions that the minister may determine. A retiring member shall be eligible for reappointment as a member for not more than two terms,” he said of some of the terms of office.
Other terms include the members in their first meeting casting a vote for the chairperson as well as the vice chairperson of the authority.
“The chairperson shall exercise the functions of the chairperson. The vice chairperson shall exercise the functions of the chairperson during any period that the chairperson is unable to exercise such functions,” Matsebula said.
The Medicines Regulatory Unit (MRU) was replaced by the MRA, which was created in accordance with the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act No. 9 of 2016, which requires it to regulate medications, medical devices, and complementary medicines. The MRU had financial, infrastructure-related, and human resource limitations in addition to its restricted regulatory capacity.
The ministry has previously expressed worry about unethical behaviours in the local medical products market, such as deceptive advertising, incorrect labelling, and reports of the public being able to obtain inferior medications.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended the MRA, an independent organisation that will answer to the minister.
The MRA responsibilities include product registration, regulation of advertising and labelling, control of the sale of medicines, licensing of manufacturers and distributors, and post-market surveillance.
The board serves to provide governance and direction for the MRA to function and protect the public from unsafe, poor-quality and falsified medical products.
The MRA is expected to ensure that medical products meet required standards before they are released to the public and continue to be monitored while in circulation.
The minister stated that he anticipates receiving the first report “as soon as possible” and every year from the MRA board.
He reminded the board that the extended financial year of reporting should never last longer than six months.
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