UNAUTHORIZED IMPORT, DISTRIBUTION, STORAGE, SALE AND USE OF COVID-19 TEST KITS OR DIAGNOSTICS BY DRUGSTORES, PHARMACIES, PRIVATE DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS, PRIVATE LABORATORIES, PRIVATE CLINICS AND PRIVATE HOSPITALS

PRESS RELEASE: VERY URGENT

The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) in collaboration with the Pharmacy Council, The Gambia (PCG)hereby inform the general public that it is illegal for any person or entity to be engaged in unauthorized import, distribution, storage, sale and use of COVID -19 test kits or diagnostics in The Gambia. Therefore, a person or entity shall not be engaged in the import, distribution, storage, sale and use of COVID-19 test kits or Diagnostics unless authorized by the Medicines Control Agency.
Currently, only National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) in Kotu and Medical Research Council (MRC) facilities are the recognized institutions authorized to conduct COVID-19 testing in The Gambia.
Therefore, the public is hereby warned not to visit any drugstore, pharmacy, private diagnostic center, private laboratory, private clinic, or private hospital for COVID-19 testing as their test kits may be substandard and falsified (counterfeit). MCA strictly warn against the illegal import, sale and testing of customers using potentially unsafe or ineffective COVID-19 test kits. This is very dangerous, unethical and could pose a serious public health hazard.
Individuals and entities who fail to abide shall face the full strength of the Law.

SIGNED: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MCA
REGISTRAR, PCG