The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) and the Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide the two organisations’ regulator-vendor relationship.

The signing ceremony took place at CMST Headquarters in Lilongwe.

PMRA Director General Mphatso Kawaye hailed the signing of the MoU with CMST as a game changer as it sets standards and expectations for both organisations in their respective roles of acquisition and quality testing of medicines and allied substances.

“This landmark partnership is a victory for all Malawians. By joining forces as PMRA and CMST, we are reaffirming our shared dedication to ensuring that only medicines and allied substances of the highest standards are approved, distributed, and made accessible in our hospitals. This collaboration strengthens our resolve to protect the health and well-being of the nation,” said Kawaye. 

Oh his part, CMST Chief Executive Officer, Dr Chikaiko Chadzunda, said the MoU brings several strategic and operational benefits to Malawi’s healthcare system, and hence promotes transformation from reactive crisis management to strategic handling of the country’s public health sector pharmaceutical needs.  

Said Chadzunda: “The MoU guarantees strengthened collaboration through improved coordination between procurement and regulatory processes; enhanced medicine availability through faster clearance and registration of essential medicines; and better-quality supplies through improved compliance from joint oversight on medicine quality and safety standards.”

PMRA, through its ISO-accredited National Medicine Quality Control Laboratory (NMQCL) is mandated to conduct quality control testing of all medicines and allied substances procured by CMST prior to distribution to public health facilities.

The MoU, among others, seeks to ensure that all guidelines and policies on medicines and allied substances quality performances and recall are well coordinated between the parties.