The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) Director General, Charles Chimenya, has reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to transparency and accountability, declaring PMRA a “corruption-free zone”. He made the remarks on Tuesday, July 14 2026, as he officially opened a four-day competency training for the Authority’s Institutional Integrity Committee (IIC) at the Manac Conference Facility in Dowa.

The training, facilitated by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), aims to equip the recently reconstituted IIC with tools to uphold the highest ethical standards.

“This is not just a slogan, it’s a commitment,” Chimenya stated, emphasizing that integrity underpins every regulatory function and decision PMRA makes. 

He stressed that delivering on PMRA’s mandate of safeguarding public health demands unwavering public trust, with integrity as the cornerstone of the Authority’s credibility.

The DG issued a direct call for all staff to embrace integrity, with IIC members expected to lead by example. He warned that he would not hesitate to remove any officer from the Committee whose conduct falls short of the expected standard, describing this as a promise to protect the institution’s reputation.

Chimenya assured the committee of full institutional backing from the Board and Senior Management, pledging the necessary resources, enabling environment, and support to carry out their oversight mandate without fear or favor. He recognized the IIC as the “conscience” of PMRA and encouraged members to speak up and raise red flags.

He expressed confidence that by the end of the training, which runs up to Friday, participants would be armed with the tools and skills to execute their oversight mandate with confidence and competence.