Online Reporter
THE widespread sale of the so-called “flu packs” by some pharmacies as we reported today on our front page is a dangerous practice that must be stopped before it triggers a public health crisis of devastating proportions.
What began as an informal response to the Covid-19 pandemic has now evolved into a thriving but illegal trade involving the indiscriminate distribution of prescription medicines, including antibiotics to unsuspecting members of the public.
The findings that some pharmacies are selling these packs for as little as US$1, often containing a cocktail of up to eight tablets to be taken simultaneously, should alarm members of the public.
The issue here is not merely one of legality. It is a matter of life and death.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe as quoted in our story has made its position crystal clear.
Antibiotics cannot legally be sold without a prescription. Yet investigations carried out by this publication suggest that this is exactly what is happening, with some pharmacies openly dispensing Amoxicillin, Azithromycin and other powerful medicines to people suffering from what are often simple viral infections.
The consequences of such practices are far-reaching.
Doctors have repeatedly warned that influenza and most common winter respiratory infections are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Health experts say antibiotics do not kill viruses. Instead, their unnecessary use accelerates antimicrobial resistance, one of the greatest threats facing global healthcare systems today.
Medical doctors further argue that when antibiotics are misused, bacteria adapt and become resistant. The result is that medicines that once cured infections no longer work. Simple illnesses become difficult to treat. Hospital stays become longer and more expensive. Death rates rise.
This is not a distant threat. Zimbabwe is already experiencing growing cases where patients fail to respond to commonly prescribed antibiotics.
Equally troubling is the reported inclusion of corticosteroids such as Prednisolone in some flu packs. These are not harmless tablets. They suppress the immune system and can worsen infections if used incorrectly.
For patients suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other chronic conditions, the consequences can be particularly severe.
What makes the situation even more alarming is the absence of standardisation. Different pharmacies are reportedly preparing different combinations and dosages. In effect, patients are being turned into unwitting participants in an uncontrolled medical experiment.
The argument advanced by some pharmacists that they are trained professionals and therefore know what they are doing misses the point entirely. Professional training does not place anyone above the law. Regulations governing medicines exist to protect patients, not to inconvenience healthcare providers.
The sale of illegal flu packs undermines public confidence in the healthcare system and places profits ahead of patient safety.
Authorities must now move beyond warnings. There is a need for rigorous inspections, meaningful penalties and decisive enforcement action against pharmacies that continue to violate pharmaceutical regulations.
At the same time, public education campaigns should be intensified to help citizens understand that not every cough, cold or sore throat requires medication, particularly antibiotics.
Winter always brings an increase in flu-like illnesses. It should not also bring an increase in reckless dispensing practices.
Zimbabwe cannot afford to gamble with the effectiveness of life-saving medicines. The fight against antimicrobial resistance starts with enforcing the law and ensuring that every medicine is used responsibly, appropriately and under proper medical supervision.
Therefore, the continued sale of illegal flu packs is a risk the nation should not tolerate.
