The Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA) has suspended a Pharmacy Technician, Rafik Mustapha (who was working for the defunct PolyClinic) for dispensing incorrect medication to the late Kotana Chidyaonga.
Chidyaonga, 23, died on January 3 2020 and according to police statements, the four said she died from a snake bite.
The Medical Council of Malawi has established that she died as a result of medical negligence after PolyClinic in Lilongwe wrongly administered a lethal dose of vecuronium bromide, instead of anti-venom.
A notice by PMRA said Mustapha has been suspended for six months.
“Negligence. Contravention of the Pharmacy Code of Ethics on principles 3 and 5: He was found negligent in discharging his duties, which led to the dispensing of incorrect medication. His conduct in failing to conduct good dispensing procedure is against the code of ethics that guides the pharmacy profession,” reads part of the notice published on Friday
In 2020, Police arrested Kotanna’s boyfriend Timothy ‘Timmy’ Ntilosanje, as well as her close friends Diana Bhagwanji, Gilbert Kamaliza, and Ekaree Daniela Chaweza.
However, High Court judge Tom Ligowe acquitted found the four with no case to answer.