Mozambique: Health minister warns against self-medication

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

Mozambique: Health minister warns against self-medication

7:37 CAT | 31 Jan 2021

Photo: O País

Mozambican Health Minister Armindo Tiago has warned people suffering from the Covid-19 respiratory disease against self-medication, which is likely to worsen their condition and harm prospects for recovery.

Speaking at a meeting on Friday with the Mozambican Association of Pharmacists, reported by the independent television station STV, Tiago said that, because of the current climate of fear, caused by the rapid increase in the number of Covid-19 cases and deaths, recommendations for medication are circulating on the Internet, but without any medical or scientific approval.

There were now many cases of patients with Covid-19 appearing at the health units in a serious condition precisely because they have ingested a wide variety of medicines and supposed cures.

“All the time information is appearing saying, for example, ‘take moringa’, and nowadays people are taking it”, said the Minister.

He urged the pharmacists not to indulge potentially risky home remedies. “Don’t do what you are not certain about”, he told them. “I see so much on social media – take this, take that – and some people are dying in hospital because of medical poisoning”.

Self-medication would worsen the clinical condition of patients and might lead to death. Tiago said he knew of some patients in the Covid-19 isolation wards who were there precisely because they had opted for self medication. Taking large quantities of medicines without any medical supervision could lead to renal insufficiency, he warned.

“The difference between medicine and poison lies in the dose and how it is administered”, he added. Getting that wrong could be lethal.

During the meeting, Tiago expressed concern at speculation in the price of medicines and other pharmaceutical products. Prices vary from pharmacy to pharmacy, and by large amounts. This problem is getting worse, and must be overcome, said the Minister.

The chairperson of the Association of Pharmacists, Pierre Nkunda, agreed with Tiago’s denunciation of self-medication.

“It’s important to prevent and cure illnesses, but self-medication is not recommended” he said. “So people must go to the pharmacies for explanations, and to purchase their medicines, particularly at this time, when there is a shortage of medicines”.

Source: AIM