The Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) has dismissed as false a viral social media video that allegedly shows small nail-like objects hidden inside a medicine capsule, saying the content was fabricated to mislead the public and cause unnecessary fear.
In a statement released on Monday, the medicines regulator said the circulating video does not reflect how pharmaceutical products are manufactured and handled under modern industrial systems.
According to TMDA, medicines are produced using highly automated pharmaceutical manufacturing technologies capable of producing thousands of capsules every minute under strict quality control conditions.
Because of the advanced mechanised process, the authority said it is technically impossible for individual nails or similar foreign objects to be inserted into a single capsule during production.
The regulator further explained that the machines used in pharmaceutical packaging are designed with sensitive protection systems.
If a hard foreign object such as a nail were present in the production line, the automated blister packing machinery would either be damaged or fail to seal the medicine properly, immediately signalling a production fault.
TMDA also stressed that all medicines entering Tanzania undergo rigorous inspection and regulatory verification before they are approved for distribution in the market.
The authority reassured the public that the country’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework remains robust and continues to ensure that medicines available to patients meet required standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
It warned that spreading unverified health-related information through social media platforms could create unnecessary panic and discourage patients from continuing with important treatments.
The regulator therefore urged citizens to obtain medicines only from authorised and registered sources.
These include licensed pharmacies, accredited health facilities such as hospitals, health centres and dispensaries, as well as registered Essential Drug Shops commonly known as Duka la Dawa Muhimu.
According to TMDA, these regulated facilities operate under established standards that ensure medicines are properly stored, handled and dispensed to patients.
The authority also advised members of the public who encounter suspicious medicines or unusual findings to report the matter directly to TMDA rather than posting it online.
Reports can be made at the authority’s headquarters or through its zonal offices located in Dar es Salaam, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Dodoma, Songea, Tabora and Geita.
TMDA said direct reporting enables experts to conduct professional investigations and take appropriate regulatory action where necessary.
The regulator further urged the public to stop circulating the viral video, warning that the continued spread of misleading information could interfere with patient care by creating unnecessary fear about the safety of medicines.
TMDA reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health by maintaining strict oversight of the pharmaceutical supply chain and ensuring that all medicines available in the country comply with required regulatory standards.
