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Experts warn against scrapping veterinary medicine permit
2 hrs ago |
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Pharmaceutical and veterinary industry experts have cautioned that the government's decision to scrap the US$200 permit for trading in veterinary products could have serious consequences, warning it may worsen the spread of falsified medicines and accelerate antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The move, announced by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere following a Cabinet meeting, is part of broader reforms aimed at streamlining business licensing and reducing fees across various sectors, including retail, wholesale, and veterinary medicines.
"Cabinet approved the removal of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe permit pegged at US$200 for trade in veterinary products," Muswere said during a post-Cabinet briefing.
However, stakeholders say the decision could be detrimental to animal and public health.
Dr. Mildred Shumba, chairperson of the Animal Health Industry Committee, described the move as "a recipe for disaster." She warned that the animal health sector is already vulnerable to falsified medicines, and removing the permit would make it easier for unqualified individuals to trade in veterinary products.
"We already have a lot of falsified medicines on the market, especially in the animal health sector, which is open to everyone… If the US$200 fee is scrapped, it's going to be a total disaster," she said.
Dr. Fungai Chikodze, Registrar of the Council of Veterinary Surgeons, acknowledged that while the measure could improve access to medicines for farmers, it could also increase misuse of antibiotics, particularly those in the Veterinary Medicine General Dealer (VMGD) category, such as oxytetracycline.
"When medicines are available over the counter without veterinary supervision, we risk accelerating antimicrobial resistance. This affects not just animal health but also public health because drug residues can enter the food chain through meat, milk, and eggs," Dr. Chikodze explained.
Patrick Munamba, chairperson of the Community Pharmacies Association of Zimbabwe, echoed the concerns, noting that veterinary medicines are increasingly sold informally, including on streets and flea markets, which compounds the AMR problem.
"Reducing business costs is important, but we must not compromise public safety. At the end of the day, the biggest stakeholder in health is the public," he said.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) also emphasized the need for regulation, highlighting the rise of falsified and substandard veterinary products in unregulated markets.
"The food people eat comes from animals. If animals are given substandard medicines, those substances can end up in humans. This is not just an animal health issue - it is a human health concern," said MCAZ spokesperson Davidson Kaiyo.
Experts are urging the government to retain the permit while streamlining procedures to ensure that only qualified traders can sell veterinary products, balancing ease of doing business with public health protection.
The move, announced by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere following a Cabinet meeting, is part of broader reforms aimed at streamlining business licensing and reducing fees across various sectors, including retail, wholesale, and veterinary medicines.
"Cabinet approved the removal of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe permit pegged at US$200 for trade in veterinary products," Muswere said during a post-Cabinet briefing.
However, stakeholders say the decision could be detrimental to animal and public health.
Dr. Mildred Shumba, chairperson of the Animal Health Industry Committee, described the move as "a recipe for disaster." She warned that the animal health sector is already vulnerable to falsified medicines, and removing the permit would make it easier for unqualified individuals to trade in veterinary products.
"We already have a lot of falsified medicines on the market, especially in the animal health sector, which is open to everyone… If the US$200 fee is scrapped, it's going to be a total disaster," she said.
Dr. Fungai Chikodze, Registrar of the Council of Veterinary Surgeons, acknowledged that while the measure could improve access to medicines for farmers, it could also increase misuse of antibiotics, particularly those in the Veterinary Medicine General Dealer (VMGD) category, such as oxytetracycline.
"When medicines are available over the counter without veterinary supervision, we risk accelerating antimicrobial resistance. This affects not just animal health but also public health because drug residues can enter the food chain through meat, milk, and eggs," Dr. Chikodze explained.
Patrick Munamba, chairperson of the Community Pharmacies Association of Zimbabwe, echoed the concerns, noting that veterinary medicines are increasingly sold informally, including on streets and flea markets, which compounds the AMR problem.
"Reducing business costs is important, but we must not compromise public safety. At the end of the day, the biggest stakeholder in health is the public," he said.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) also emphasized the need for regulation, highlighting the rise of falsified and substandard veterinary products in unregulated markets.
"The food people eat comes from animals. If animals are given substandard medicines, those substances can end up in humans. This is not just an animal health issue - it is a human health concern," said MCAZ spokesperson Davidson Kaiyo.
Experts are urging the government to retain the permit while streamlining procedures to ensure that only qualified traders can sell veterinary products, balancing ease of doing business with public health protection.
Source - HealthTimes
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