False Social Media Alarm: Antimalarial Drugs Removed From EU Market

The Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board would like to assure the general public that information circulating on social media purporting that certain antimalarial drugs have been withdrawn from the European Union Market for causing kidney failure is false and should be disregarded.

In Malawi, the use of single active ingredient (monotherapy) antimalarial products such as those listed in the social media post was phased out in December 2007 following change of policy by the Ministry of Health to adopt Artemisinin based combination therapies (ACTs) for the treatment of Malaria. It is worth noting that the change of policy was not due to kidney failure but rather to avoid development of antimicrobial resistance to monotherapy antimalarial drugs.

In line with the malaria treatment policy change, the Pharmacy, Medicines and Poisons Board ensures that only antimalarial combination products are registered for use in Malawi, except artesunate injection, artesunate suppository, and quinine tablets which may be used in special clinical circumstances. The antimalarials listed in the social media post do not cover this scope and therefore should not be found on the Malawi market. Pharmacy Board inspectors are always vigilant in ensuring that unregistered drugs including those listed in the social media post are identified, seized, and destroyed. We however wish to call on the general public to be vigilant and report to Pharmacy Board offices or call our Tips Anonymous hotline 00000000 if you find any of the drugs listed in the social media post.

The general public is therefore advised to disregard the social media information and continue to use artemisinin combination therapy products as recommended by the Ministry of Health through the National Malaria Control Program.