Malawians can't fill prescriptions at their public hospitals because of huge medicine shortages. At the same time, Johannesburg's black market overflows with drugs smuggled from Malawi. A South African news group called GroundUp reports that these black markets sell antibiotics, birth control, and allergy medicines. Most come from Malawi, with some from Zimbabwe.
Many immigrants can't visit regular clinics or hospitals because they lack proper papers. They turn to these street sellers instead. A Malawian woman sells pills from her Johannesburg home for just R2 each. She offers better deals to people who buy in bulk to resell them.
Her business makes lots of money. Customers rush to buy medicines that normally require a doctor's prescription. "I saw a chance and took it," she said. People don't need any ID to buy from me." She added that a box of medicine she ordered from Malawi two weeks ago has already sold out completely.
Another Malawian living in Johannesburg doesn't even try going to clinics anymore. She buys all her medicine from street sellers from her country. "I know medicine from my country works well; that's why I trust it," she explained. She asks why she should visit clinics where staff might turn her away or tell her to seek treatment back home.
The easy access to these medicines without prescriptions creates health risks. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority warns about fake or poor-quality medicines. These make up about 10% of all medicines used worldwide. Their spokesperson says they work with the police to find unauthorized products in the country.
They also collaborate with border agencies and tax officials to prevent these products from entering South Africa. Meanwhile, public hospitals in Malawi face severe medicine shortages. Doctors must limit medicine use or send patients to expensive private pharmacies because they simply don't have enough supplies.
Many immigrants can't visit regular clinics or hospitals because they lack proper papers. They turn to these street sellers instead. A Malawian woman sells pills from her Johannesburg home for just R2 each. She offers better deals to people who buy in bulk to resell them.
Her business makes lots of money. Customers rush to buy medicines that normally require a doctor's prescription. "I saw a chance and took it," she said. People don't need any ID to buy from me." She added that a box of medicine she ordered from Malawi two weeks ago has already sold out completely.
Another Malawian living in Johannesburg doesn't even try going to clinics anymore. She buys all her medicine from street sellers from her country. "I know medicine from my country works well; that's why I trust it," she explained. She asks why she should visit clinics where staff might turn her away or tell her to seek treatment back home.
The easy access to these medicines without prescriptions creates health risks. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority warns about fake or poor-quality medicines. These make up about 10% of all medicines used worldwide. Their spokesperson says they work with the police to find unauthorized products in the country.
They also collaborate with border agencies and tax officials to prevent these products from entering South Africa. Meanwhile, public hospitals in Malawi face severe medicine shortages. Doctors must limit medicine use or send patients to expensive private pharmacies because they simply don't have enough supplies.
