MCA Lauds Increased Inspection

Mr Essa Marenah © Askanwi

By Haddy Ceesay

The Ministry of Information convened a monthly press conference on 9th October 2024 at the Sir Dawda Conference Centre in Bijilo which featured the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) who highlighted numerous updates on the regulation of medicines in the country.

The MCA and four others are currently being sued by the bereaved parents of 27 children who died after the Agency failed to ensure the safety of medicines manufactured by Indian company Maiden Pharmaceuticals and imported and distributed in the country by Atlantic Pharmaceuticals. Since the outbreak of poisonous medicines which led to the death of over 72 children, the MCA has been tightening it’s monitoring of medicines in the country.

More Inspectors Across the Country

MCA is The Gambia’s only Agency responsible for ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines, and related products under the Ministry of Health. Established by the Medicines and Related Products Act of 2014 the MCA is mandated to oversee the manufacturing, importation, exportation, distribution, use, and advertising of medicines and related products to ensure their quality, safety, and efficacy. It was explained that related products include herbal medicines, cosmetics, medical devices, and household chemicals.

During the press conference MCA’s Executive Director, Mr Essa Marenah noted that they aim to station inspectors across the country to prevent the illegal importation of medicines.

“The MCA also has a crucial role in conducting inspections, so we aim to have inspectors stationed nationwide. This year, we made an effort to appoint inspectors for airport support as well. Although we're not currently covering airport support, the seaport office may open their very important airport. This is essential because we intercept many things entering the country without our knowledge. Thanks to the government, we've been able to appoint some people," said Mr Marenah.

Mr Marenah also revealed that they recruited and posted more people across the country this year. “For the first time, we posted people across the entire country, covering every region. Whether you are in the South or North, we have special postings across the entire region. We are also able to permanently post people at the airport to provide support, and they are currently undergoing inspections” said the MCA Executive Director.

Mr Marenah revealed that their inspections have reaped some rewards in the courts also. Our reporter conducted some research on this and unearthed a recent Point Newspaper publication highlighting that Magistrate Touray of the Kanifing Magistrates’ Court convicted and sentenced Ousman Njie and Musa Sibi for selling unauthorized medicines on 26th September 2024 for a mandatory jail term of one year each.

In addition to this mandatory jail term, Magistrate Touray is reported to have ordered the duo to pay a D250,000 fine each, in default to serve two years imprisonment. Three cartons of medicines tendered by the prosecution were also forfeited to the MCA and the Police were ordered to search for other medicines kept by the duo. The Point Newspaper reveals how the duo entered a guilty plea and were convicted.

In his statement, Mr Marenah advised the public to refrain from selling or importing medicines into the country. In contrast, those selling supplementary products were urged to register their products. He warned that individuals caught by authorities would face consequences.

MCA Staff at Press Conference © Askanwi

Conflict of Interest in MCA

Mr Essa Marenah became the Executive Director of the MCA after his two bosses were fired after a Presidential Task Force Report into the Acute Kidney Injury resulting in the death of over 72 children recommended for their termination. The same Presidential Investigation report identified some 11 MCA Officials as being conflicted and they includes Mr Essa Marenah. According to the report which was published in April 2023 Mr Marenah “is also a certified pharmacist serving as a supervisor for Stop Step Pharmacy from 2004 to date”. It’s not confirmed if he is still working there. In addition to him a number of other MCA Staff still working in the MCA are identified as conflicted in the table below from the AKI Presidential Report.