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AIDS drugs on street corners

Malawi's government has issued a warning to vendors involved in the illegal sale of HIV/AIDS drugs, the Malawi Standard newspaper reported on Friday. Despite calls for their arrest, the informal businesses have maintained that these were the benefits of a liberal economy. However, the Registrar of the Pharmacies, Medicines and Poisons Board, Patrick Tembo, said "Liberalisation doesn't mean trading in pharmaceutical drugs. It is illegal. Only registered institutions like hospitals and pharmacies are allowed to sell pharmaceutical drugs." Tembo warned that buying the poorly manufactured antiretrovirals only encouraged drug resistance in people living with HIV/AIDS.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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