Since the beginning of this year 2021, a new reform is seen in the pharmaceutical sector. Said reform takes into account the duty cycles of pharmacies. A decision that is already causing discontent and victims in the population of Cotonou and its surroundings.
In a press release made public, the 07 December 2020, the president of the National Council of the Order of Pharmacists of Benin (Cnopb), Dr Alladayè Padonou Sylvie wanted to inform the Beninese population of the launch of on-call pharmacies throughout the national territory. In said press release, the president of the Cnopb did not fail to indicate the days and opening hours of pharmacies. "The days and opening hours of pharmacies are set from Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.. les pharmacies de garde seront ouvertes 24h /24 », she stressed. This decision, since its inception has made more people unhappy than happy. For some it is martyrdom because they no longer have the opportunity to tame each other in the nearest pharmacies if they are not on call.
Macarius L. is a driver in a local company and lives in Cococodji in the district of Godomey, he makes reference to his experience "On Sunday 10 last january, I had some health problems. After doctor's advice, I went to the nearest pharmacy to my home, I was amazed to find that this pharmacy, which worked at all hours, was closed. The security guard then informed me that she was not on guard. So I took a zem to go to another pharmacy located more than a kilometer and a half from my place of residence ".
Like the latter, many are these people who do not have the information, were faced with an identical situation, those who had the means to go and get their supplies elsewhere, but the others had to return home. This is the case with Honoré young entrepreneur, his six year old daughter Lidvine hasn't slept all night like he claims. So he had waited until the next day to go to the pharmacy in order to take a few tablets to improve his daughter's state of health.. He too was surprised when the pharmacy was closed, even believing that this was due to the celebration of the Vodou festival in Benin. This last, as he says "I only had the exact money to take the syrup I was given for the little one. The pharmacy being closed, I came back home to take the motorbike and look for another pharmacy. I even thought it was due to the celebration of 10 January before I am told that this is the new deal in the sector. It is really painful because if it is an emergency, time to make these round trips, we can worsen the situation of the suffering person ”.
"If the pharmacy closest to me has to close on Saturday at 10 p.m. and Sunday is not on duty, I must either go at night if it is urgent to a pharmacy further away while insecurity is still relevant with the small hold-ups or wait until the next day to get supplies. The disease does not prevent and does not wait especially with our children today ", hints Monique O. the fifties which adds "we are fighting against fake drugs, we are not yet at the end of the fight and we are making these decisions. People will just go back to old ways. Those who can go further from home at night will do so, but the others will suffer the fate of this bad decision.. In this period when we are talking about covid19, this decision does not make it so easy for us ”.
The concern of parliamentarians
This decision taken by pharmacy officials in Benin has therefore not stopped worrying part of the population. In front of the deputies on Thursday 07 last January as part of the study of the bill on the organization of the pharmaceutical sector, the minister of health, Professor Benjamin Hounkpatin did not hesitate to shed some light on this decision. The Minister indicated that this decision, does not come from the government, but is an initiative of the pharmacists themselves. He also recalled that pharmacies operating in Benin are open every day until 10 p.m., start times of guard tours. "This decision therefore aims to establish a certain fairness in the operation of pharmacies by giving the opportunity to small structures to take advantage of their on-call hours to also make customers" indicated the Minister before the parliamentarians..
A decision to review
This decision therefore relieves the pharmacies, leaving customers speechless and in disarray. What will the Consumers Association say ? Will she advocate for consumers, will she be happy about this reform ? For the moment, l’application de la reforme continue.
Firmin KASSAGA