Two medicines in circulation recalled or quarantined

Renthia Kaimbi

Two separate medicines have either been recalled or quarantined in the past two weeks, raising questions not only about the quality of medicines in circulation, but also about the transparency of the medicines regulator’s public communication.

The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC) issued a directive on 3 August 2026 ordering all public health facilities to immediately quarantine two batches of Azithromycin Oral Suspension, a widely used antibiotic manufactured by India-based Medicamen Biotech Ltd, after complaints that the product failed to dissolve properly and continued to exhibit lumps and granules even after thorough shaking.

The quarantine directive, signed by Registrar of Medicines Frieda Shigwedha, was circulated to Central Medical Stores, regional health directors, medical superintendents, pharmacists and nurses in-charge of health facilities across the country.

Just one week later, on 10 August 2026, Cospharm Investments issued its own voluntary recall notification for VCS Flumed Syrup (Batch 260180), a children’s cough, cold and flu syrup manufactured by Varichem Pharmaceuticals, after crystals were found in a number of units.