Pierre Hugues, the President of the Association of Haitian Pharmacists, warned the population against the increase in the number of counterfeit drugs on the Haitian market, due to the shortage in pharmacies and the health system.

"The risk of counterfeiting increases because demand is high" and the absence of border controls and impunity encourage an increase in the smuggling of counterfeit medicines.

Hugues recalled that Haiti depended on imported medicines for nearly 70% of its needs. "Today, ports and airports are closed or dysfunctional, which affects the entire health sector which lacks supplies and medicines and prevents thousands of patients from continuing their treatment."

Of the 216 laboratories which officially supply pharmacies in Haiti, only 3 are located on the national territory and normally cover between 25 and 30% of national needs. However, today one of them is inactive due to insecurity, and the other two are operating below their maximum capacity.

Finally, Hugues deplored that gangs have looted and burned more than ten pharmacies in Port-au-Prince in recent days.

HL/ HaitiLibre