10 pharmacy professionals disciplined over medicine violations

The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) has disciplined 10 pharmacy professionals and licensed pharmaceutical businesses over violations involving the handling and movement of medicines.

The disciplinary action follows findings of unlawful handling, movement, storage, sourcing and diversion of medicines by pharmacy personnel and pharmaceutical businesses.

The action was announced in a public notice that Malawi24 has seen, following the 87th Meeting of the PMRA Board of Directors, held from 30 to 31 July 2026 in Lilongwe.

According to the PMRA, the disciplinary cases involved offences ranging from professional misconduct and operation of unlicensed pharmaceutical businesses to unauthorised stocking of restricted medicines, unlawful sourcing and diversion of medicines and medical supplies, and the falsification or tampering with official records.

Among those disciplined was Pilirani Mpido, Managing Director of Lifecheck Private Clinic, whose dispensing clinic licence was suspended for six months.

The PMRA found that the facility operated an unlicensed wholesale pharmaceutical business, used unregistered personnel to dispense medicines and misrepresented the presence of a full-time pharmacist.

The regulator also found that the clinic sourced medicines from unregistered dealers. The matter was referred to the Medical Council of Malawi.

Hossana Nkhata, Managing Director of Madimba Medicine Store, had his medicine store licence immediately revoked.

The PMRA found that the store had stocked ART regimen 13A, provided false information to facilitate the illegal acquisition of ART medicines and stocked prescription-only medicines.

Another serious case involved Prince Albert, a Pharmacy Technician at Chizami Medicine Store. The store’s licence was immediately revoked, while Albert was removed from the Pharmacy Technician Register following findings involving the unlawful stocking of prescription-only medicines, suspected possession of diverted government medicines and inadequate storage conditions.

In another case, Brighton Nyirenda was suspended for three months following findings concerning the facilitation of the unlawful sourcing and movement of medicines from Kasungu District Hospital.

Eckton Kumundayayi received a 12-month suspension for the unlawful removal and diversion of medicines, including findings that medicines were added for intended illegal sale and personal financial gain.

In Lilongwe, Kingston Mabutawo, a pharmacist at Lilongwe District Health Office, was suspended for three months for the unauthorised movement and transportation of medicines and surgical items, including failure to maintain proper transfer records.

Meanwhile, Wongani Luhanga, a Pharmacy Assistant at Lilongwe District Health Office, was removed from the Pharmacy Assistant Register over the unauthorised movement and unlawful handling of medicines and surgical items.