The decision fell on Friday April 28th, 2023 after the minister of health and of the fight against AIDS paid a field visit to Bujumbura economic capital’s health centres and pharmacies.
As a result, those [health centres and pharmacies] operating out of norms were temporarily closed. However, the number was not specified.
Amongst the norms’ violations include health and legal compliances. The first category hit centres whose hygiene standards remain poorly lousy, conveying weak healthcare, and who were found manipulating medications’ pricing.
As far as legal compliance is concerned, centres were not or half recognised by the ministry. “We have realised drugstores working without authorised documents of the Ministry of Public Health and fight against AIDS”, said Dr Sylvie.
“Current certification and licensing standards are not upheld as Some pharmacies are not operating under the norms and regulations.”
“A period of one month to comply with the current certification regulations governing health care facilities is granted,” she concluded.
This seems as an eye-wink to all health facilities which operate in Burundi to double check if they are working correctly as on Thursday April 27, 2023, The minister paid a prompt unexpected visit to the hospital of Prince Régent Charles in Bujumbura Mayorship.
Dr NZEYIMANA checked over the staff’s performance in their respective services, and she has emphasised that the hygiene should be improved.
While on her visit, Zacharie Nduwamungu (28) met at Buyenzi zone said that the ministry should further check and avail strict follow ups on delivered drugs and their prices.
“The medication pricing is clear according to the pharmaceutical law, 2020 but people who work for the pharmacies determine the price of drugs awkwardly. None refers to the pharmaceutical law,” he said.
He applauded the move to impose proper hygiene on pharmacies for, as he said, in the future other diseases may arise which might be out of control instead of healing medications.
For chemist’s owners, they said that most of the time they are forced to review the prices as everything has been expensive, unless they want to work for nothing.
However, north Bujumbura residents drew the attention to space between pharmacies, saying that The distance between one pharmacy to another should be respected, said Jonathan NDAYISENGA who lives in Kamenge.
According to the ministry new measures to be effective from the 1st June of 2023 including closing for good any entity who failed to abide by rules and regulations.
