MCAZ Warns Public About Circulation of Falsified Cloxacillin Capsules

 The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has issued an urgent public health warning following the discovery of falsified Cloxacillin 250mg capsules currently circulating in the local pharmaceutical market.

In a statement released Friday, the Authority confirmed that the counterfeit antibiotic is being distributed illegally and identified Gartas Investments as one of the sources linked to the falsified product. The fake medicine poses a serious threat to public health due to concerns over its safety, quality, and lack of therapeutic effectiveness.

The counterfeit product significantly deviates in appearance and packaging from the genuine Cloxacillin capsules manufactured by Varichem Pharmaceuticals (Pvt) Ltd, which is a licensed and registered supplier.

Key indicators of the falsified product include:

• Label Design: Sharp-cornered brown labels, unlike the authentic orange-coloured rounded labels.

• Capsule Markings: Absence of markings, whereas the genuine capsules are clearly labelled “V-CLOX 250.”

• Packaging Integrity: Lack of aluminium foil sealing, a standard feature of the original Varichem containers.

“The circulation of falsified medicines undermines treatment outcomes and contributes to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global health threat,” warned MCAZ Director-General Mr. Richard T. Rukwata.

MCAZ has urged all pharmacies, healthcare professionals, wholesalers, and medical institutions—both public and private—to immediately quarantine any suspected falsified Cloxacillin capsules and submit them to the Authority for safe disposal. The deadline for submission is set for 1 August 2025.

The Authority stated that investigations are ongoing in collaboration with law enforcement agencies to trace and eliminate the counterfeit products from the supply chain.

MCAZ reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through continued surveillance and enforcement efforts aimed at ensuring that only safe, effective, and high-quality medicines are available in Zimbabwe.

Members of the public and healthcare providers are encouraged to report any suspected counterfeit medications.

Contact Information

• MCAZ Director-General: Mr. Richard T. Rukwata
  Email: mcaz@mcaz.co.zw

• Public Relations Officer: Mr. Davison Kaiyo
  Cell: +263 782 788 568 / +263 733 862 742
  Email: dkaiyo@mcaz.co.zw / mcaz@mcaz.co.zw

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