Justicia Shipena
A routine inspection conducted on Monday uncovered several shortcomings in Fabupharm Namibia (Pty) Ltd’s oral liquid dosage block, the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC) has said.
As a result, the NMRC instructed the company to recall all its oral liquid products and halt production on the affected liquid line until the issues are corrected.
“The inspection of the oral liquid dosage block observed shortcomings which necessitated various corrective and preventative actions,” said Fransina Nambahu, registrar of the NMRC.
The directive follows pressure from member of parliament Job Amupanda, who last week urged the council to act after claiming he had evidence that Fabupharm’s children’s paracetamol syrup was unsafe.
Nambahu said production may only resume once the highlighted issues are fully addressed in line with standard manufacturing requirements.
She said the NMRC is committed to ensuring access to safe, effective, and quality-assured medicines for all Namibians.
“Further information regarding the Council’s fulfilment of this mandate in this regard will be provided in due course.”
Fabupharm last week maintained that its children’s paracetamol syrup is safe. The Otjiwarongo-based company had stated it had not received any formal communication from the Council indicating that its product was defective, unsafe, or non-compliant with regulations.
At that time, the company maintained that its paracetamol syrup is manufactured according to strict international Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and follows guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and local regulatory frameworks.
Amupanda on Wednesday welcomed the Council’s decision.
“I welcome the implementation of my instructions to the Minister and the Namibia Medicine Regulatory Council (NMRC) with regard to the products of Fabupharm as taken on Monday, 02 June 2025, as soon as the Minister returns to the country,” he said.
He said no one should play with the health of people, especially children.
This is not the first time Fabupharm has been ordered to recall a product.
In January, the Ministry of Health and Social Services recalled a facial scrub due to quality concerns.
The scrub, chlorhexidine 4% 20L, was manufactured by Fabupharm in Otjiwarongo.
According to a letter from the ministry’s deputy director of operations, Barnabas Iitula, dated 16 January, the recall followed multiple complaints from end-users.
