The Growing Concern of Smuggled and Unknown Medicines in Tunisia

Smuggled and unknown medicines cause concern in Tunisia

• The Syndicate of Private Pharmacies filed a legal case against online platforms that promote counterfeit medicines
• Distributing medicines is the exclusive competence of the state through the central pharmacy, according to organized distribution routes

Tunisia is experiencing a shortage of a large number of medicines, but the problem does not stop at the loss pharmaceutical It also includes the growing phenomenon of selling smuggled medicines of unknown origin, as the head of the National Syndicate of Private Pharmacies, Nawfal Amira, warned of the growing phenomenon of selling medicines through illegal channels and on social media pages, and of their effects on the public health of Tunisians, especially since these medicines are of unknown origin and come through smuggling routes.

Amira said that this phenomenon is beginning to get out of control, recalling that the distribution of medicines is the exclusive competence of the state through the central pharmacy according to an organized distribution route. He pointed out that the promotion of smuggled medicines represents a great threat to the health of citizens since many medicines are not licensed in Tunisia and are used in their manufacture. Adulterated raw materials, in addition to offering them for sale at exorbitant prices that may reach more than five times their original price.

He also warned against the use of semi-medical materials that are sold through parallel and unlicensed distribution networks, such as anti-sun ointments and others. He said that trade in medicines in parallel markets has flourished, taking advantage of the great shortage of medicines in the Tunisian market, stressing the need for the concerned departments to intervene to put an end to this trade. The Syndicate of Private Pharmacies filed a legal case against online platforms that promote counterfeit medicines from India and Bangladesh.

Tunisia is living in the midst of an exacerbated drug crisis Tunisians By all means, they are looking for life-saving medicines, so that the pages of most Tunisians on social networking sites are now filled with advertisements and cries for help to search for medicines for chronic and dangerous diseases.

Akhbar Al-Aan contacted the head of the regional authority of pharmacists in Sfax, Sidi Bouzid, Kasserine, Olfa Salami, who said: “We are living in a major crisis, and it is not a new crisis, as it started almost since 2018. The medicine is available, then it is lost, and so on, and every time there are different reasons.” .