Govt must regulate Pharmacies in neighbourhoods

IT is no longer a secret that in recent times, our neighbourhoods have seen a surprising influx of pharmacies sprouting up like mushrooms after rain.

And while some might say it is the government’s new initiative to keep everyone healthy, the truth is a little more concerning-these pharmacies are operating in residential areas like uninvited guests at a dinner party.

If left unchecked, they may soon be dishing out more than just over-the-counter meds—they could be feeding the burgeoning drug abuse crisis.

The problem is not just that there are too many pharmacies around; it is how they are operating and who is working behind the counters.

Often, these pharmacies are manned by young school dropouts, often girls, who may have learned little more than the art of “guessing” what goes into a prescription bottle.

The low pay they receive is about as uplifting as a deflated balloon, and their job prospects? Well, let us just say they are about as promising as a Wi-Fi signal in the middle of a desert.

We are not talking about the diligent pharmacist you would find at your trusted neighbourhood drug store. No, this is a different breed-where “pharmacist” seems to mean a “clerk with a tray of tablets” rather than an expert who knows what they are doing.

What is worse is that many of these untrained personnel may be dispensing highly addictive substances with more ease than a barista serving coffee.

While they may not be intentionally turning your street into a pharmaceutical wonderland, it is certainly a recipe for disaster.

The absence of a strict regulatory oversight here is where the government needs to flex some muscle. Without stronger regulations, we risk seeing a scenario where these ‘pharmacies’ become as common as fast-food joints-and just as harmful.

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More worrying is the role these pharmacies play in fuelling drug abuse. With a slip of a hand, a pill or two is handed out, no questions asked.

Meanwhile, the health of the community quietly deteriorates behind closed doors. And here is the kicker: Young and mostly girls, often in desperate need of a job, are the ones at the front lines.

These girls, many of whom are simply trying to make ends meet, have little understanding of the implications of distributing prescription drugs. It is a classic case of exploitation, where the pharmaceutical industry preys on the most vulnerable in society, offering them low-wage jobs that could be the very thing that makes them part of the problem.

As the custodian of its citizens’ well-being, the government must act decisively. There is no room for complacency when the health of an entire generation is at risk.

Regulation is needed not just to stop these rogue pharmacies from proliferating, but to ensure that the personnel responsible for distributing medication are properly trained, paid fairly and held accountable for their actions.

Let us be clear: Allowing these businesses to thrive unchecked is not an option. So, here is the solution: Let us stop the mushrooming of these pharmacies in residential areas, ensure that pharmacy personnel are properly trained and compensated and most importantly, protect the future of our communities from the scourge of drug abuse.

It is time for the government to take charge and nip this problem in the budbefore the whole neighbourhood ends up in a pill-induced haze.