Also known as: NMRC · Namibian Medicine Regulatory Council
Namibia's medicines regulator responsible for ensuring safety, quality and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, recently warning against unregistered weight-loss injections.
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August 2026
Windhoek Observer
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC)issued a public notice warning againstunregistered GLP-1 receptor agonists and peptide-containing medicines marketed for weight loss
Source
“The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC), through the ministry of health and social services, issued a public notice on 13 August warning against unregistered GLP-1 receptor agonists and peptide-containing medicines being marketed for weight loss.”
NMRCsaid unregistered medicines may containwrong active ingredient, strength, contamination, falsification, or counterfeits
Source
“The regulator said unregistered medicines may contain the wrong active ingredient or strength, be contaminated, falsified or counterfeit, or be manufactured without appropriate quality controls.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Councilwarned the public fromimporting, advertising, distributing and prescribing unlicensed medicine on social media
Source
“The Namibian Medicine Regulatory Council has warned the public from importing, advertising, distributing and prescribing unlicensed medicine on social media.”
The councilobservedan increase in the sale of unauthorised GLP-1 and peptide-containing medicine marketed for weight loss and diabetes on social media
Source
“The council says it has observed an increase in the sale of unauthorised GLP-1 and peptide-containing medicine marketed for weight loss and diabetes on social media recently.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC)issued a directive orderingall public health facilities to quarantine two batches of Azithromycin Oral Suspension
Source
“The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC) issued a directive on 3 August 2026 ordering all public health facilities to immediately quarantine two batches of Azithromycin Oral Suspension, a widely used antibiotic manufactured by India-based Medicamen Biotech Ltd, after complaints that the product failed to dissolve properly and continued to exhibit lumps and granules even after thorough shaking.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Councilis targeted forreforms to speed up medicine registration
Source
“Kandetu said the ministry remains focused on restoring medicine availability through emergency procurement, bulk purchasing, pooled procurement mechanisms, direct sourcing from manufacturers, expansion of supplier networks, improved stock monitoring, strengthened inventory management, enhanced Central Medical Stores operations and reforms at the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council to speed up medicine registration and improve the efficiency of the pharmaceutical supply chain.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory CouncilclearedFabupharm Pty Ltd's paracetamol syrup for use
Source
“The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council (NMRC) has cleared Fabupharm Pty Ltd's paracetamol syrup for use after independent tests confirmed its safety.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory CouncilorderedFabuPharm to stop pharmaceutical production for operating without valid licence
Source
“The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council at the time ordered the company to stop pharmaceutical production, saying it had violated the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act by manufacturing medicines without renewing its licence.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Councilis responsible formonitoring medicine side effects and promoting safe medicine use
Source
“Namibia's Therapeutics Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre, operating under the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council, is responsible for monitoring medicine side effects and promoting safe medicine use in the country.”
Namibia Medicines Regulatory Councilis undergoing reforms toimprove operational efficiency and speed up product registration processes
Source
“In addition, reforms are underway at the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council to improve operational efficiency and speed up product registration processes.”
Namibia's Medicines Regulatory Council has warned that injectable weight-loss treatments sold through social media and online vendors may contain wrong ingredients, incorrect strengths, or contaminants. The regulator named products including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, cautioning that unregistered medicines may be falsified, counterfeit, or manufactured without proper quality controls.
Namibia's Medicines Regulatory Council has warned that injectable weight-loss treatments sold through social media and online vendors may contain wrong ingredients, incorrect strengths, or contaminants. The regulator named products including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, cautioning that unregistered medicines may be falsified, counterfeit, or manufactured without proper quality controls.
Namibia's Medicine Regulatory Council has warned the public against importing, advertising, distributing and prescribing unlicensed GLP-1 and peptide-containing medicines marketed for weight loss and diabetes on social media, citing serious adverse events documented by international regulators including dosing errors, contamination and hospitalisation.
The Registrar of Medicines at Namibia's Medicines Regulatory Council has warned against the unauthorised importation, sale and use of GLP-1 and peptide-containing medicines marketed for weight loss and diabetes, noting increased distribution through social media, online vendors and informal markets. Persons who contravene the prohibition may face inspection, seizure of products, prosecution and penalties under the Medicines and Related Substances Control Act.
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council quarantined two batches of Azithromycin Oral Suspension after complaints it failed to dissolve properly and contained lumps, while Cospharm Investments issued a voluntary recall of VCS Flumed Syrup after crystals were found in units.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has received and distributed 33 categories of critically needed medicines and clinical supplies between 18 June and 1 July 2026, part of efforts to address medicine shortages and stabilize the national pharmaceutical supply chain. The deliveries include cancer medicines such as Cyclophosphamide, Cytarabine, and Thioguanine, alongside antibiotics.
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has cleared Fabupharm Pty Ltd's paracetamol syrup for use after independent laboratory tests confirmed it met safety and quality standards. The clearance was issued in May following the product's recall last year, which came after routine inspection shortcomings were identified.
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has confirmed that Fabu-Paracetamol meets required safety and quality standards following independent laboratory testing of samples from health facilities. The tests found all batches complied with quality specifications, contained correct active pharmaceutical ingredient levels, and contained no toxic contaminants such as diethylene glycol or ethylene glycol.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has cancelled pharmaceutical and clinical product orders worth N$44.8 million extended to 12 companies after suppliers failed to deliver medicines to the Central Medical Stores, including treatments for mental illness, cancer, and chronic conditions.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has issued a formal summons to a member of the ministry of health and social services' Bid Evaluation Committee to appear for questioning over allegations of procurement manipulation, supply chain fraud, and theft of pharmaceutical medicines from state warehouses. The official is to appear before an ACC investigator on 18 August 2026.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has removed Fransina Nambahu as registrar of medicines at the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council and appointed Frieda Shiweda to the position effective 1 June 2026. Sources told the Windhoek Observer that Nambahu was removed after refusing to approve substandard medicines, contradicting the ministry's stated reason of structural review.
Namibia is strengthening its medicine safety systems as African countries push for closer regulatory cooperation through the African Medicines Agency to address concerns over counterfeit medicines and weak reporting systems for medicine side effects. The Ministry of Health and Social Services says stronger cooperation between African regulators would help countries respond faster to harmful medicines, improve monitoring of side effects and reduce dependence on foreign regulatory systems.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services has intensified efforts to stabilise Namibia's pharmaceutical supply chain, with essential medicines and clinical supplies delivered to the Central Medical Stores over the past two weeks. The country's pharmaceutical stock service level currently stands at about 60%, below the targeted minimum of 80%, though urgent procurement interventions are showing progress.
The Ministry of Health reports that several essential pharmaceutical products are in short supply or out of stock at health facilities. The Central Medical Stores received pharmaceutical and clinical supplies between 27 April and 15 May 2026, including stocks of seizure control medication, blood glucose test strips, and blood pressure management drugs, intended to address urgent needs and stabilise inventory levels.
The Asoli Progressive Party has criticized President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah for what it describes as insufficient response to ongoing medicine shortages in public hospitals, with the party's president Josef Kauandenge saying the government has not acted with enough urgency. Public concern has grown in recent weeks after patients were referred to private pharmacies due to stock-outs, though the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced it will now provide monthly updates on pharmaceutical supplies, with current stock levels at about 60% of required quantities.
Following a South African recall of Citro-Soda antacid batches, Namibia's Health Ministry is investigating whether affected products entered the local market and will consult with the Medicines Regulatory Council. The ministry has advised the public to remain vigilant and consult healthcare professionals if they experience unusual symptoms after using the product.
The Minister of Health and Social Services has officially appointed new members to the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council, tasking them with regulating medicines and related substances to ensure products reaching the public are safe, effective, and of high quality. The minister warned against attempts to compromise the Council's integrity through corruption or favouritism.
Health Minister Dr Esperance Luvindao has instructed newly appointed members of the Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council to declare any commercial interests in the pharmaceutical or healthcare industry within three months, emphasising transparency and conflict-of-interest prevention. Failure to disclose conflicts can render council proceedings invalid or result in criminal penalties of up to N$8,000 in fines or two years' imprisonment.
Namibia's Medicines Regulatory Council has advised consumers to consult healthcare professionals before using zinc picolinate and selenium-containing supplements, particularly for children under 18. The council urged the public to report any suspected adverse events to the Therapeutic Information and Pharmacovigilance Centre.
Namibia's Medicines Regulatory Council has urged the public to consult healthcare professionals before using supplements containing zinc picolinate and selenium, especially for children under 18, following safety concerns from South Africa's health regulator. The NMRC is not recalling the products but says consumers should seek professional advice, and has urged reporting of any adverse effects.
The Namibia Medicines Regulatory Council has advised the public and healthcare professionals to exercise caution when using products containing zinc picolinate and selenium in children under 18, following South Africa's recall of similar products. While no Namibian recall has been mandated, the NMRC emphasises consulting healthcare professionals before giving these supplements to children and encourages reporting of adverse reactions.