Angelah Nothando Mlotshwa
Environment and Health Reporter
ZIM GBC NEWS has noted that the marketers and distributors of Super Total Care Herbal Life medicines have defied a directive from the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe that banned their continued use in the Country.
The STC30 herbal life medicines were banned by the MCAZ last year through the following statement:
“Harare- the mandate of the Medicines Control of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is to protect public health by ensuring that medicines and medical devices on the market are safe, effective and good quality. Thus all herbal medicines should be registered by the MCAZ. To know which herbal medicines are approved to be sold in Zimbabwe you should visit the MCAZ online register, http//:onlineservices.mcaz.co.zw/onlineregister/frmCompsRegister.aspx where a list of all registered complimentary medicines is found.”
“Super Total Care (STC30) and many similar products with their numerous medicinal and health claims makes them registrable products. However STC30 is currently not registered and not approved for sale in Zimbabwe. As the authority we have noticed the continued advertising and marketing of STC30 products especially on social media. We urge members of the public to desist from buying such products which have not gone through any clinical trial and therefore their safety and efficacy has not been proven.”
“Members of the public are encouraged to buy medicines from registered premises and person. These lists can be found on the online register found on our website htms://onlineservices.mcaz.co.zw/onlineregisterformPersonsRegister.aspx.”
“The continued marketing and advertising of such unregistered “medicinal” products is not only an act of criminality but also puts the lives of the citizens at risk. As the Authority responsible for protecting public and animal health, MCAZ enforces adherence to standards by manufacturers and distributors and will exercise its statutory mandate against the perpetrators of these criminal acts.”, said Director General of MCAZ, Richard Tendai Rukwata.
Most of the companies that are defying the MCAZ advertise via advertising groups on social media which easily reach millions of potential consumers. ZIM GBC NEWS engaged with one of the dealers who sells STC30 products.
In response to this reporter’s questions the dealer said the drugs they sale were approved by the Traditional Medicines Practise of Zimbabwe.
“They are registered under the Traditional medicine practice of Zimbabwe ( TMPZ).”
Those that market the STC30 claim the drugs cure all cancer types, burns, ageing, goiter, thyroid problems, psoriasis or dermatitis and eczema, infertility migraine, gastritis, brain damage, importance, diabetes, fibroid, Parkinson disease, kidney failure and For arthritis For among others