Despite proscription, illicit sale of drugs thrives

Despite the fact that the Ministry of Health proscribes the illicit sale of drugs across the national territory, in line with the World Health Organisation, WHO, the business is thriving along the streets of cities and villages in Cameroon.

In Buea, the hawking of pharmaceutical drugs on streets or their sale in makeshift structures is commonplace. The more alarming issue about this illicit business is that the drugs are not just contraband, but most are expired.

The Buea Central Market, the Muea Market and the Molyko neighbourhood, for instance, are among the hotspots of the business.

Doctor A.A Awa of St. Luke’s Hospital holds that: “Illicit sale of drugs on street causes a lot of damage to patients. Firstly, the drugs are not properly preserved. Secondly, they are exposed and most often are expire and, why not, the content could be replaced and the formula altered. Patients should go to the hospital for prescription and buy drugs from recognised pharmacies. For the ban to be effective, the entire nation must join the Government in the fight against illicit drugs. Individuals must be conscious of the devastating effects of drugs sold in the streets”.

Frisk Tandu, a Pharmacist at Solidarity Clinic, Buea, said that drugs sold on the street are not accurately preserved as they are exposed to sunlight, leading to high temperature, and eventually become potential poison. Some do not get the drug from the right sources, others smuggle them and some sell expired drugs. The irony is that drugs meant for treatment turn to be more dangerous to a consumer’s health.

The underprivileged appear to be the main buyers of these drugs as many hold that drugs sold in pharmacies and hospitals are very expensive.

Approached, a woman who was seen buying drugs from a roadside medicine store and who requested for anonymity said: “I do not have enough money that would enable me buy drugs from recognised pharmacies. I find drugs there rather too expensive, that is why I buy drugs on the street.”

Another roadside drug buyer who gave her name as Mama Rosemary said: “I prefer street drugs because they are cheap and available. These drugs are sometimes sold near hospitals and we know that they are smuggled out of the hospital pharmacy; that is why I do not believe in all the talk that street drugs are dangerous.”

A man, who appealed for anonymity, said: “Drugs at the roadside are always available, but I cannot guarantee their effectiveness as, I have once been a victim of buying expired and fake drugs. Sometimes, paracetamol, which is an over-the-counter drug, seems like dried cassava.”

Nevertheless, there are patients who follow strictly the medical doctor’s prescription. Martha Akwe told The Post: “I do not buy drugs on the street or from unrecognised pharmacies. I prefer to go for consultation in the hospital and be tested, when necessary, rather than buy drugs without knowing the sickness I am suffering from.”

Meantime, a seller of roadside drugs said: “Those pharmacists and doctors are just condemning us in order to discourage people from buying our drugs. I do not see anything wrong with me selling drugs since they are well preserved and sheltered and, as for the claim about expired drugs, the dates are printed on them.”