Proliferation of unregulated pharmacies concerns Bunia residents

Residents of Bunia, the capital of Ituri, are concerned about the growing number of pharmacies and medicine depots that allegedly do not meet required standards. They say medicines are sometimes sold without prescriptions or qualified staff to advise patients, potentially encouraging self-medication, dosing errors and inappropriate treatment. Residents are calling on health authorities to increase inspections and regulate medicine sales more effectively. The provincial inspector responsible for the pharmaceutical sector had not responded by the time the report was published.