Kasungu Registers High Number of People Illegally in Possession of Medical Drugs

While patients are failing to get prescribed medicines in public hospitals, Kasungu is recording high numbers of people illegally possessing medicines.

A survey conducted around Kasungu District Hospital revealed that patients are given alternative drugs because the hospital is not stocking prescribed ones.

Ironically the same drugs that the hospital does not have are always sold illegally at the market popularly known as “Ku Nthochi”.

Kasungu police station deputy spokesperson, Harry Namwaza stated that the cases of illegal possession of medical drugs increased in 2016.

“In 2016 we handled 16 cases of people possessing drugs without a licence. This year alone there are already four cases that we are looking into.” He said.

Namwaza said while the cases seem to be increasing, police managed to arrest some suspects and took them to court where they secured convictions.

The latest case involved Paul Mwale, a cleaner at Kasungu District Hospital , who was found with assorted drugs at his house after being implicated by Clifford Banda, a vendor caught selling government drugs.