The US aid agency says medicine is only available to patients that have enough money to buy themImage caption: The US aid agency says medicine is only available to patients that have enough money to buy them
About 90% of pharmacies in Liberia are selling stolen medicine donated by aid organisations, the US Agency for International Development (USAid) says.
USAid Mission Director Jim Wright at the weekend said such “acts of fraud” prevented Liberians from receiving donated essential medicines.
“That is unacceptable. That means that medicine is only available to patients that have enough money to buy them,” Mr Wright said.
Following the revelation, six Liberian civil groups have launched a national media campaign aimed at monitoring the distribution of aid medical supplies and raising awareness that donated medicines are free and should not be sold.
Mr Wright called for increased accountability, including the prosecution of those guilty of stealing and selling donated health supplies.
The Liberian authorities are yet to comment on this matter.