National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory (NMQAL) provides the technical support needed to operate the quality assurance system on Medicines, Medical Devices, Borderline products and Cosmetics. The primary function of the NMQAL is to conduct laboratory tests necessary for determining compliance with product quality, safety and efficacy requirements.
The functions of the NMQAL are as follows:
- Analysis of locally manufactured and imported Medicines, Medical Devices, Borderline products and Cosmetics at different points in the distribution chain. (Premarketing and Post marketing stages) Samples for analyses are submitted as registration samples, complaints samples, tender samples and surveillance samples collected from government and private institutions.
- Function as an additional approved analyst when the circumstances so require.
- Participate in GMP inspections
- Participate in external quality assurance assessment scheme (proficiency testing)
- Conduct training programs on quality assurance system
- To coordinate with laboratories local or overseas when their services are deemed necessary as decided by the NMRA.
The Main divisions of NMQAL comprise of Chemical, Microbiological, Biological, Reference Standard & Calibration and Devices. NMQAL follows the test procedures in standard pharmacopoeias and other accepted (validated) test procedures in the assessment of quality safely and efficacy.