Health workers fight illegal sales of medicine

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Health workers fight illegal sales of medicine

7:27 CAT | 17 Dec 2018

in file CoM

A brigade from the Mozambican Health Ministry on Monday visited one of the main markets in Maputo city, in the neighbourhood of Xipamanine, in an attempt to discourage the illegal sale of medicines, which have often been stolen from the national health service.

This is part of a drive by the Ministry to raise awareness about the dangers of medicines sold in inappropriate places, such as informal markets and the public highway.

The brigade members in Xipamanine urged both sellers and visitors to the market to adopt good health practices, and acquire medicines only from health units and accredited pharmacies.

Headed by Ivone Nhaca, from the Ministry’s inspectorate, and Joao Grachane, a senior ministry director, the brigade spoke of the dangers of acquiring medicine from inappropriate places and without a medical prescription.

They urged members of the public to collaborate with the government’s efforts to guarantee health and well-being for all, and to denounce any attempt to sell medicines in the markets or on the streets.

Grachane said the Ministry want to eliminate once and for all the illegal sale of medicines. Just because a medicine sold in the street has a label saying it is valid until 2021 or 2022, that does not mean that it is of good quality, he warned.

“Because it has not been conserved under the proper conditions, this medicine is not going to be effective”, said Grachane. “On the contrary, it could worsen still further the condition of those who buy it, and in some cases lead to death. So let’s not buy medicines in informal markets”.

The advantage of buying medicines at health units or from pharmacies, he continued, is that health professionals are at hand who can give advice about all pharmaceuticals, how often any particular drug should be taken and the dosage.

“First, we must have a medical prescription”, he said. “It’s on the basis of the prescription that the medicines should be sold. We have to go to the doctor for a diagnosis. We can’t just go out of our houses, and buy medicines in a market”.

He urged the public to come forward with information. “We need to know where the sellers get the medicines, who brings the medicines to them”, said Grachane.

Ivone Nhaca said the illegal sale of medicines is a serious public health problem and a crime, and she hoped the current campaigns will make citizens understand the dangers.

Source: AIM