Health Dept eyes digital system to curb black market medicine trade

Cape Talk and 702's Africa Melane chats to Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale.

Listen below:

The Department of Health is rolling out a new electronic medical records system to help clamp down on people collecting medication from multiple clinics and reselling it, often across borders.

"Currently, in the public healthcare sector, our health facilities don't communicate with each other... meaning that if you move from one facility to another to collect the same medication, they may not easily detect that. Once we roll out this electronic medical record [system] it's going to tell us whether you collect from Gugulethu, and now you want to collect in Musina, you won't be able to collect because the system will tell us that you've just collected for this month." 

- Foster Mohale, Health Department spokesperson

According to Mohale, about 80% of public clinics and hospitals are already linked up, with full implementation expected in the coming months.

The move comes after reports of prescription drugs like antibiotics and ARVs being sold on the streets, especially in Johannesburg. 

RELATED: Immigrants in Johannesburg turn to black market for smuggled medicines: 'It must be contained' – regulator

"We do get reports from time to time about people who hop from one health facility to another collecting medication for reselling, especially outside the country."

- Foster Mohale, Health Department spokesperson

"We always appeal to members of the public to please notify us so that we can arrest those culprits."

- Foster Mohale, Health Department spokesperson

Some of the demand is linked to foreign nationals being denied access to public healthcare. 

Mohale says this kind of black market trade is not only illegal, but also dangerous, as expired or mishandled medication can put lives at risk.

He’s urging the public to stick with clinics, where medication is safe and free. 

"We want to appeal to members of the public to say, even if you are staying far from your nearest clinic or hospital, please don't resort to going to the black market because now you cannot guarantee the quality and effectiveness of this medication..."

- Foster Mohale, Health Department spokesperson

"We don't understand why people should go and buy something that is accessible, free of charge in our clinics..." 

- Foster Mohale, Health Department spokesperson

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.