Government has warned pharmacies that are overcharging
clients or selling medicines in United States dollars that they risk losing
their operating licences.
Unscrupulous pharmacies are overcharging customers through
pegging prices on prevailing parallel market rates of local currency to the US
dollar.
This has led to decline in uptake of medicines, raising
fears that some patients could be defaulting, which may complicate their medical
conditions. Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo said
Government would soon be checking for compliance to pricing of medicines at all
pharmacies.
“We are going to be checking on all private pharmacies to
ensure that they are all adhering to the approved prices. We do not want a
situation where people are overcharged, where there is a continuous hiking of
prices of drugs and at the same time we also want to advice retailers that they
should not charge in foreign currency.
“We have heard that there are some who are still charging
in foreign currency, that has to stop immediately. The law says we pay in
Zimbabwean dollar and that is what we have to adhere to. All those who are
charging in US dollars are doing an illegal act and we will not hesitate to
withdraw licences of those who continue to do unlawful acts,” said Dr Moyo.
Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe chief
executive officer Mrs Shylet Sanyanga said the pharmaceutical industry
continues to charge medicines in United States dollars with those accepting
RTGS converting at very high rates, resulting in many patients failing to
access essential medicines.
A snap survey by our Harare Bureau in Harare yesterday
showed that some patients had resorted to buying their medicines from
neighbouring countries such as South Africa and Zambia where the prices are
relatively low.
Some traders who cross the borders frequently are even
bringing over the counter medicines such as cough syrups and pain killers into
the country to sell on the informal market.
In addition, some foreign based individuals are using
social media platforms such as Facebook and twitter to link with Zimbabwean
patients and sell them pharmaceuticals from abroad mainly South Africa and
United Kingdom at much low prices.
This combined trend is likely to see an increase in
expiration of pharmaceutical products due to low consumption, raising other
fears that some providers might end up selling expired medicines at cheaper
prices to unsuspecting patients.
A local pharmacist who spoke on condition of anonymity said
most patients are now buying short-term supplies instead of the whole
prescribed course.
“Patients are buying supplies for just a few days to a
week. Some are even forgoing medicines like pain killers and cough mixtures to
save money and only purchase antibiotics when they have infections,” he said.
However, Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe (PSZ) president
Mr Portifa Mwendera attributed the decline of medicine uptake rate to failure
by medical aid societies to match current cost of medicines.
“We have noticed that the consumption of pharmaceutical
services has declined significantly over the last quarter mainly due to
affordability issues.
“The healthcare funders have failed to match the increase
in healthcare costs particularly the price of medicines and their reimbursement
rates are very low leading to increased shortfalls and out of pocket
settlements for medicines,” he said.
Pharmaceutical Wholesalers’ Association chairman, Mr Kudakwashe
Chapfika, said economic challenges have contributed to reduced spending at
retail level.
“Consumer spending at retail level has reduced markedly due
to the worsening economic situation and revenues have tumbled, thereby
affecting the whole pharmaceutical value chain with reduced uptake of
pharmaceutical products,” said Mr Chapfika.
Government is working flat out to make available affordable
medicines at public health institutions.
Chronicle
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