Quality Of Selected Anti-retroviral Medicines: Tanzania Mainland Market As A Case Study

Résumé

Abstract Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is still health problem worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries, such as Tanzania. Anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) have significantly reduced morbidity, mortality and improved the quality of life of people living with HIV infection. Thus, good quality ARVs is amongst the key factors which guarantee successful therapeutic outcomes and prevention of development of drug resistant strains. This study was aimed at monitoring the quality of ARVs circulating on the Tanzania Mainland market.Methodology This was a prospective cross sectional study. ARVs samples were collected in 20 regions of Tanzania Mainland, between 2012 and 2018. All samples were subjected to screening testing using the Global Pharma Health Fund ® Mini-Lab kits. Sampled ARV’s that failed screening test or yielded doubtful results and ten percent (10%) of all that complied with the screening test requirements were subjected to confirmatory testing using full pharmacopoeia monographs at the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA), quality control laboratory prequalified by the World Health Organisation. Samples collected from the medicine distribution outlets were also subjected to product information review.Results A total of 2,630 samples were collected, of which 83.7% (2200/2630) were from port of entry (POEs). Out of the 430 samples which were subjected to product information review, 25.6% (110/430) failed to comply with the packaging and labelling requirements. All sampled ARV’s that were screened and conformed to the specifications, except of the fixed dose combination (FDC) lopinavir/ritonavir 0.27% (7/2630) and lamivudine/zidovudine/nevirapine 0.27% (7/2630) that failed the disintegration test. In confirmatory testing using full pharmacopoeia monographs, all samples conformed to the requirements, except of FDC stavudine/lamivudine/nevirapine which failed disintegration 2% (2/100) and assay tests 1% (1/100) respectively. Samples failing the assay test had low content of stavudine (86.6%) versus specification limits (90% -110%).Conclusion The quality of majority of ARVs circulating on the Tanzania Mainland market was good. The existence of number of ARVs circulating on Tanzania Mainland market which do not comply with product information requirements was significant. These results call for continuous monitoring of quality of medicines circulating on the Tanzania market.

Citer ce document

Accès au document

Ce document est hébergé sur son dépôt institutionnel d'origine.

Auteur(s)

Statistiques

Consultations : 1

Téléchargements : 0