The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube Sunday News Reporter
A CLOSELY knit scam involving pharmacists and some members of the public has been unravelled, where people can access prescription-only medication without the required doctor’s prescription especially for STIs and other ailments even those that require injections. In a two-week investigation, Sunday News established that pharmacists were using middlemen, mainly ordinary pharmacy employees, who take “orders” from members of the public without a doctor’s prescription.
The practice has seen pharmacists and their assistants assuming the role of qualified doctors thereby putting the lives of people at risk.
Sources revealed that in some cases people could even access Anti-Retroviral medication without any prescription. This reporter approached a number of pharmacies purporting to be suffering from a sexually transmitted infection (STI) but did not want to go to the doctor and in all instances either pharmacy attendants or till operators offered to assist but they had to meet outside the premises either during lunch hour or after work.
“It will cost you my brother but it is double, I will talk to the pharmacist and we will prepare something for you, please keep it under wraps because as you know it is not allowed. Let us meet after work but for now leave me with about $60 so we organise something, definitely I will deliver after work,” said an attendant at a pharmacy along Fife Street.
At another pharmacy this reporter was followed by a shop attendant, after the pharmacist had rejected selling off the prescription drugs, who offered to “assist” even offering to administer an injectable drug.
“The problem with your condition is that for it to totally go away you will also require an injectable drug. We can sort that out for you and you can also organise a place where I can come and inject you,” said the attendant.
After visiting the pharmacies, this reporter managed to negotiate a deal where he accessed three prescription drugs, Tagera forte, Doxicap and Ciproxin at a total cost of $50 plus Erythromycin, an injectable drug. The attendant, however, insisted on keeping the injectable so that he would administer the injection later.
Other prescription drugs that can be accessed include Norfioxacin, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, Metronidazole and Benzathine penicillin all of which are medications for STIs.
A pharmacist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that this was the only way they could make money noting that everyone was benefiting from the industry they were employed in.
“My brother this is Zimbabwe, in almost every profession there is some form of corruption taking place, actually we can no longer call it corruption but rather it’s part of the job. We have to make money and this is the only way we can do this,” said the pharmacist.
Questioned on whether this practice did not put members of the public in danger, noting that the public is getting medication without having been observed by a medical doctor, the pharmacist said they ensured that they got the full symptoms of any ailment before they “prescribed” and supplied the necessary medication.
“We are also medical practitioners in the sense that we deal with providing medication, so we will never prescribe anything that will likely affect our “patients”. In the event that there could be possible danger like when there is a need for injections, we ensure that we assist or get someone who can assist,” said the pharmacist.
Contacted for comment Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Dr Paul Chimedza warned against the practice, noting that cutting corners always had its negative effects. He said the police and other regulatory bodies should be on high alert to curb such practices. He added that any pharmacy found flouting laid down regulations on drugs and putting people’s lives at risk would immediately have their operating licence revoked.
“That is illegal and very dangerous, the reason we say some of these drugs require a doctor’s prescription is to ensure that someone does not get a drug that could have dangerous side effects.
“We always monitor these pharmacies and in the event that we note some irregularities, we will not hesitate to revoke their practising licences,” said Dr Chimedza.
Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe spokesperson Mr Richard Rukwata also blasted the practice saying members of the public should avoid such temptation as in the long run it could have a bearing on their health.
“The problem is that we do not have arresting powers as a body but in most cases we work with the police and we cannot just arrest, we strongly rely on members of the public coming to us with information regarding such practices so that we can act,” said Mr Rukwata.
