By: Nicholas Bass
Ali Shuman, the boss of Atlantic Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Thursday acknowledged his obligation to safety and standards in the importation of drugs into The Gambia.
It could be recalled that his company was accused of importing contaminated syrups that allegedly took seventy lives of children who suffered from Acute Kidney Injury [AKI].
Testifying before Honourable Justice Ebrima Jaiteh following the state’s request for him to be recalled into the dock, Ali Shuman disclosed that the National Medical Control Agency [MCA] approved the drugs his company imported into The Gambia.
The Defence first witness Shuman, however, adduced that MCA did not help him in selecting drugs from his Indian partners, Maiden Pharmaceutical Company which according to him there was no request for quality control at the time of importation.
When asked by counsel M.D. Mballow representing the 1st ,2nd and 3rd defendant, MCA, Ministry of Health and Attorney General of his years of experience in the importation of drugs, he claimed to have worked for over 30 years.
Mr. Shuman was quick to affirm that the National Medical Control Agency recalled drugs from the market, deducing that such happens when the drugs are below standards.
DW1, Shuman, denied taking responsibility for the safety of the drugs, noting that his company has followed all the regulatory MCA made for importers of drugs.
‘’I can assure you, we have followed all MCA regulations,’’ Shuman stated.
On 30 June 2023, families of 19 deceased children filed a civil lawsuit against Maiden Pharmaceutical Company, Atlantic Pharmaceutical Company (the importer), the MCA, the Ministry of Health, and the Attorney General. The plaintiffs are seeking a declaration that the MCA failed in its responsibility to ensure the safety, quality, and regulation of medicines, among other claims
The second defence witness, Ensa Marenah, MCA Acting Executive Director in his testimony, stated that MCA are tasked with the responsibility of regulating and controlling the importation of drugs in The Gambia
Mr Marenah maintained that MCA follows the laws in ensuring that importers of drugs are licensed, adding that MCA inspects containers of importers of drugs before imported drugs are distributed into The Gambian market.
Marenah explained that importers of drugs present certificate of analysis, bill of levy amongst other documents to the national regulatory body, MCA.
He deduced that the documents of Maiden Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Indian drug manufacturing Company at the time were authentic, claiming that the said documents ‘’maybe fraudulently’’. The case continues next week.