Let’s avoid self-medication, seek help from hospitals

DAR ES SALAAM: THERE is a habit that is now almost a culture in our midst and must stop and that is we have become a nation of self-declared doctors. Feeling a little tired? Must be malaria- grab some quinine. Headache after lunch? Surely that is typhoid – go buy antibiotics. Coughing? That must be TB or pneumonia – time for some leftover syrup from 2021. No tests, no consultations, just Google searches and a random guess.

This casual approach to health has become a dangerous trend and pharmacies (or “chemists” as we love to call them) have turned into our first and sometimes only, stop when we are unwell. We walk in, describe our symptoms in 30 seconds and walk out with a plastic bag full of medication all without ever seeing a trained medical professional advice.

And here is the plot twist, some of these pharmacies are not even run by pharmacists.

In many neighbourhoods, there mushrooming chemist shops. From village centres to urban backstreets, you will find someone in a white coat standing behind a counter, confidently handing out drugs and health advice with all the certainty of a seasoned consultant. But ask for their license? Medical training? Registration? You might just get a shrug, a smile, or an angry look for daring to question “Doctor Chemist.”

The reality is disturbing: many of these so-called pharmacies are not licensed, not regulated and not staffed by professionals. Some are managed by young job seekers with no medical background whatsoever, just a basic knowledge of drug names and a willingness to “help.”

To the public, the message is simple: stop self-prescribing. Go to a hospital. Visit a health centre. Medical professionals are there and guess what? Consultations in government facilities are free. Trained doctors and nurses are available to diagnose you properly, explain your condition and prescribe appropriate treatment. Even private clinics, though not free, are a safer alternative to blindly buying medication from someone who thinks paracetamol cures everything.

To the authorities, the number of illegal and unregulated pharmacies is growing. If a nationwide swoop were to happen today, there is a high chance you would uncover hundreds of such operations. It is your duty to monitor, regulate and if necessary, shut down these pharmacies. Random inspections should not be a once-a-year event, but a regular and rigorous routine. Don’t wait until people fall sick from wrong prescriptions or expired drugs. Prevention is cheaper than funerals.

And for those running these shady chemists: if you are not trained, licensed, and qualified, please close shop. Selling drugs is not like selling tomatoes, it is a matter of life and death.

We must begin to respect medicine again not as something to experiment with, but as a carefully crafted science that requires professional handling. Self-medication is not only risky, it can lead to drug resistance, organ failure, allergic reactions, and even death.

It is time to stop guessing, stop gambling, and start seeking proper medical guidance. A pill may ease the pain, but the wrong pill can end your story. Your body is not a chemistry lab. Don’t treat it like one.