Health Minister, Dr Obadiah Moyo has threatened to take “stern” action against unlicensed medicine vendors who have been on the increase recently.
Moyo said that the operation should start now to sweep every illegal medicine vendor from every street. He said:
We are now saying we have to take sterner action. We would like to see your inspectors with the police teams and clearing those people on a daily basis. Let’s make an example and make sure we take care of business. Those doing unlawful things, the law must take its course.
Medicine vendors have been increasing with some attributing their prevalence to the collapse of the public health system in the country and the exorbitant medicine prices charged in private medical institutions.
The Ministry of Health has been trying to alert the public of the side effects of medicines bought by the roadside but that has not deterred citizens from buying medicines from vendors.
More: Health Times