Banned Vioxx still available in Africa

While we had reported earlier that the banned drugs Vioxx and Bextra are available in India, there are other countries that are doing the same. According to Reuters, Kenya is investigating that generic versions of Vioxx are being sold by pharmacies there. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Kenya is sending out inspectors to check on pharmacies that are selling them and legal action is being taken against them.

While Vioxx was recalled in September of 2004 worldwide, the drug regulatory agencies in other countries took their own time in announcing the withdrawals and in enforcing the decision. For instance, in Kenya, the decision was announced as late as June 2005.

Vioxx and Bextra present very interesting challenges before drug regulators and patients. While both drugs have been officially recalled, both Merck and Pfizer stand by their safety and want to sell them again. In a very bizarre development, a panel constituted by the FDA in the US and another similar panel organized by Health Canada recommended that both drugs are safe enough to be on the market.

The patients that took either of the drugs are not so sure though. As many as 5,000 lawsuits have been filed against Merck. The company was also recently found guilty of causing the death of Robert Ernst who took Vioxx.

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