MARTIN MAWAYA
HARARE-Zimbabwe’s Medicines Control Authority (MCAZ) has issued a Class II recall for a batch of Yaz Plus contraceptive tablets due to a quality issue, the agency announced in a media release on November 22, 2024.
The affected batch, with registration number 2022/21.2.1/6235 and batch number WEW961J, was manufactured by Bayer (Pty) Ltd in South Africa.
The recall is being issued because some packs of the affected batch were found to contain 24 light orange hormone-free tablets and 4 pink hormone tablets, instead of the correct configuration of 24 pink hormone tablets and 4 light orange hormone-free tablets.
“Non-compliance with product quality specifications may result in loss of efficacy and potential harm to patients,” the MCAZ director general Richard Rukwata said in a press release.
The recall is a precautionary measure to protect the public from the possible inefficacy of the affected batch.
The MCAZ is advising all licensed wholesalers, pharmacies, public and private clinics, and hospitals to quarantine any affected units of the product and cooperate fully with Bayer and local distributors during the recall process.
Members of the public using this contraceptive are urged to check the batch number on their tablet packs.
If they have the affected batch number, they should immediately stop using the tablets, return the affected packs to their pharmacist, and consult with their healthcare professional.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe is the national pharmacovigilance center responsible for monitoring the safety of medical products and allied substances in the country.
