The under-regulation of the medicines domain has been responsible for the avoidable deaths of nearly 100 Gambian children.
The lack of robust monitoring of the dispensation of drugs and scientific analysis of the efficacy of medicines brought into the country does not only expose the weakness of our health sector but its cost is just too many to count.
But as if that is not enough, the Gambia government is not doing anything to regulate the prices of medicines.
For example, while the retail price of Philobac is D75 at City Pharmacy in Serekunda, Hajo Jara Pharmacy in Old Jeshwang is selling the same product at D150.
Meanwhile, an eyedrop solution was last Wednesday trading at D900 at Stop Step Pharmacy whilst it was sold at D450 at MalakChemist along Kairaba Avenue.
These price disparities give a vivid picture of the medicines pricing situation in the Greater Banjul Area, where the determination of the prices of medicines appears to hinge on the whims and caprices of pharmacy owners.
The question that readily comes to mind is: Who Is Regulating the Prices of Medicines in this country?