Haiti: Anyone can become a pharmacist and sell medicine in the market

In Haiti, medicines are easily traded like buying a bunch of vegetables or weighing meat on the market. In addition, drug sellers do not have to sit in a waiting place for the sick but must actively seek patients to sell drugs.

In the capital of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, a person does not need a pharmaceutical qualification to practice medicine. The process is very simple, as long as you have a small amount of money to buy medicine, a large bucket or pot and the ability to sell charm, then you are eligible to sell medicine.

A drug vendor in Haiti.

Contrary to the thought of getting sick, the patient will go to the doctor, pharmacist, in Haiti, the process is exactly the opposite. The pharmacists who sell drugs on the street go to their pots to search for the sick.

In Haiti, medicine is like an item that can be bought in the market or store. Because of that, buying medicine from peddlers almost became normal. In fact, pharmacies are hard to reach people in Haiti, so street drug dealers are the ones who sell the main medicine to the people.

But not everyone can practice "selling medicine" . Because they have to be able to arrange the pots so that they are most beautiful and attractive. If not, you will not be noticed by anyone, let alone buy medicine.

Most sellers often choose to place Ampicillin next to Tylenol to create color contrast to attract customers. Medicine pots are designed and arranged very miraculously and not everyone has the skills to do it best.

At first glance, potions are like an art installation.

The potions are designed and arranged very miraculously.

Medications are like items that can be bought in the market.

Drugs originating from China.

Of course, selling drugs is considered illegal, but it is rare for Haiti's Ministry of Population and Public Health to take any action to punish or deter the sale of this drug. The lack of supervision by the Haitian government puts people at risk with untrained drug sellers.

No one knows the quality of the drug, only know the medicine originated from China . There are even expired medicines and counterfeit medicines imported from the Dominican Republic. Buying drugs from unreliable sellers is like giving a patient full health and life to a charlatan.

Although not trained yet, drug sellers walk around or give advice, even prescribe to patients. While not all prescriptions are accurate and sometimes harm the patient's health.

People who sell drugs take advice or even give advice to the sick.

Rénold Germain, a pediatric drug dealer in Haiti said: "People can't hide anything from us. They tell us about symptoms related to infection, digestion or even sex. For each disease, we have a different medicine ".

Not knowing how long this unique "industry" in Haiti will last but this is indeed a form of sale that needs to be removed soon to protect people's health.