Refrain from patronising expired drugs…Ghanaians urged
Despite efforts by the Food and Drugs Board, to check the influx of fake and expired drugs into the country, it seems all of the education has fallen on deaf ears.
Walking on the streets of Accra, one would notice hawkers selling different kind of drugs, ranging from pain killers to de-wormers, and several others.
Yet vendors of these drugs cannot read or decipher the inscriptions or expiry dates on the packaging of these drugs, but they sell them and even go to the extent of acting as "pharmacists," prescribing how and when it can be taken, without knowing the components of these drugs.
Most of these drugs are imported, and are most times only few months to the expiry dates, which when taken could have adverse effects on the person.
This goes on not only on the streets, but also in public transport, especially in the long distance buses.
People can also be blamed for the fact that, one cannot claim ignorance that buying drugs of the streets or in passenger buses can be very harmful to one's life.
Some of these 'pharmacists' also present "fake" documents portraying that they have authorisation.
In an interview with Miss Osafo Bema, a trader at the Makola Market, she said she buys those drugs because the prices are cheaper, as compared to the ones at the chemical shops/pharmacies.
"De-wormers cost GH¢2 at pharmaceutical shops, but it are sold at GH50p on the street, which means one can save a little," she said.
She further added that sometimes the hawkers bait them with words which influence them to buy.
Speaking to some of the hawkers, they said although they were aware that most of the drugs were about to expire, they were compelled by circumstances, to sell them to make a living.
Speaking with Bismark Owusu, one of these hawkers who sells different kinds of these drugs, he said some of the drugs melt when exposed to the sun, but he is compelled to lie to the customers to buy, because "Ghanaians like to be lied to," he noted.
That notwithstanding, Owusu said that the educated ones, who can read and write, ignore the inscriptions and buy the drugs.
Speaking to one of the hawkers, also who sells optical lens, he said although one need to go through a medical process before acquiring the proper lens for the eyes, it was expensive so they opt to the ones sold on the streets, which they buy at a cheaper price.
In an interview with a Health Nurse at the Amasaman Health Centre, on anonymity, said the Ministry of Health was aware of the situation, and the public has been educated on the danger, yet it seems Ghanaians are not taking these messages seriously.
She said due to this most of the patients comes to the hospital with serious forms of complications, due to the intake of unprescribe drugs (self medication)
She attributed about 35 per cent of mortality rate to the intake of such drugs, and 20% of chronic diseases, like kidney disorders, to the intake of the expired drugs.
She said the drugs get toxicities when exposed to the sun, which made them unsafe.
She further appealed to the government, Food and Drugs Board, and the appropriate authorities to take the necessary action to help save lives
She advised the public to join in the National Health Insurance Scheme, to help them have easy access to heath.