Mozambique authorities crack down on illegal medicine sales

Authorities in Mozambique have conducted operations to combat the illegal sale and diversion of medicines, resulting in several arrests and seizures across different provinces.

In Niassa province, a joint task force including the Ministry of Health (MISAU), the Mozambique Police (PRM), and the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) detained three individuals. The suspects, which include two health sector employees, are accused of supplying the parallel market with products diverted from the National Health System (SNS). Significant quantities of undocumented medications were seized during the operation.

In the Murrupula district of Nampula province, a health agent was detained on suspicion of diverting antiretroviral drugs and other pharmaceuticals. These medicines were reportedly part of a program supported by UNICEF and were discovered at the suspect's residence. Investigations are ongoing to determine the origin of the drugs and the full extent of the diversion, which threatens the treatment access of patients relying on the public health system.