The Pharmaceutical Society of Malawi (Phasom) says it is pursuing legal and administrative options to stop the reported pending appointment of Professor Frank Taulo as director general (DG) of the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority (PMRA).
In a leaked internal memo addressed to members, Phasom president William Mpute and secretary general Jeremiah Kabaghe said Taulo’s appointment would violate the PMRA Act of 2019.
Section 18(2) (a) and (b) of the Act states: “The director general shall be a registered pharmacist with a post-graduate qualification in a pharmaceutically-related field and a person with a minimum of seven years’ senior management experience.”
Phasom argues that Taulo, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, does not meet the statutory requirements.
“The situation is a defining moment for the pharmacy profession in Malawi,” the memo reads. “Phasom remains steadfast in its mandate to ensure the rule of law is respected and that the integrity of pharmaceutical regulation is upheld. We are currently exploring all available legal and administrative avenues to ensure a swift and decisive correction to this matter.”
It adds: “We call upon every pharmacy professional in Malawi, regardless of membership status, to stand in solidarity. Defending our professional standards is not just about our guild; it is about safeguarding the health and interests of every Malawian.”
PMRA’s website still lists Mphatso Kawaye as director general.
Kawaye holds a first degree and postgraduate degree in pharmacy from Kamuzu University of Health Sciences and Taipei Medical University.
Contacted on Thursday, Mpute said Phasom was following the matter closely, but could not comment further.
“The memo we sent was for our members only and relevant in their context. You may contact PMRA directly for further communication,” he wrote.
PMRA board chairperson Charlotte Misoya had not responded to requests for comment by press time yesterday.
Taulo, when contacted on Friday, denied knowledge of any pending appointment.
In 2021, Taulo was suspended for five years over medical negligence. A Medical Council of Malawi letter dated March 31, 2026, states he has served the suspension and is free to practise as a gynaecologist.
The reported appointment adds to recent public scrutiny over government hiring practices in State entities, with critics faulting appointing authorities for sidelining procedures.
Social commentator John Kapito said Malawi has progressive laws on public service recruitment that are often ignored, especially for senior posts.
“Our biggest challenge is the continued appointments by the Executive that ignore the role of the boards and undermine the integrity of parastatals,” Kapito said.
“The moment we disregard the role of boards, which include strong scrutiny of employment procedures, then we end up with the current situation where boards have become rubber stamps, endorsing illegal appointments.”
He added: “How do such recruitments expect to improve performance and delivery of public services? This is a simple matter that could have been addressed if there was an independent governance structure with a key interest to represent and protect the public.”
Established under the PMRA Act, the authority regulates pharmacy practice, medicines and allied substances.
Its mandate includes safeguarding public health by ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines; enforcing pharmacy practice standards; regulating clinical trials; vetting advertising for medicines; conducting quality control; monitoring medicine and vaccine safety; issuing import and export permits; managing narcotic licences; and authorising medical donations.
