An investigation has been launched after the discovery of dozens of packs of ARVs and prescription drugs amid the wreckage of a fatal bus accident in Limpopo last week, in which 43 passengers lost their lives and 48 were injured, reports The Citizen.
The vehicle, which was apparently overloaded and was travelling from Gqeberha to Zimbabwe and Malawi, veered off the road and plunged down a steep embankment on the Sunday evening.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo expressed concern about “buckets of ARV drugs and other medication” being found, “with no documentation for medical cargo”.
“A full-scale investigation has been launched, and law enforcement agencies are also treating this accident as a potential case of pharmaceutical smuggling,” she said.
“Unfortunately, the proof confirms brazen theft from government clinics and does not assist efforts to restore conditions for foreign nationals to access public healthcare in South Africa,” she added.
Investigators are following several leads to determine whether the ARVs were destined for an underground market or part of a broader cross-border smuggling network operating in southern Africa, reports Health-e News.
“The theft and unauthorised movement of ARVs seriously undermines our fight against HIV and Aids,” Ntshvheni said during a post-Cabinet media briefing.
“Such acts deprive patients of essential medication and compromise regional health goals.”
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Three arrested with stolen HIV drugs
EC hospital clerk arrested for allegedly stealing ARVs
Mpumalanga clinic employees arrested on suspicion of stealing ARVs