Malians buy street drugs amid high pharmacy costs
Doctors warn of poisoning and treatment failure from unregulated medicines sold without prescriptions.
In Bamako and other Malian cities, people are buying medicines from street vendors, known as 'pharmacie par terre,' because pharmacy prices are too high. This practice exposes buyers to health risks like treatment failure and poisoning, according to health professionals.
General practitioner Harouna Doumbia stated that financial hardship, vendor proximity, and easy purchase without a prescription drive people to street drugs. Vendor Aly Keita confirmed that amoxicillin is a popular item, sold between 25F CFA and 500F CFA, often without proper refrigeration.
Dr. Doumbia warned that unknown drug compositions can cause poisoning and organ damage, while under-dosed products may lead to treatment failure and disease progression, delaying proper diagnosis and care.
Why it mattersMalian citizens are risking their health by self-medicating with unregulated street drugs due to the high cost of formal healthcare.