Stop self–medication

With the influx of pharmaceutical shops, drugs are closer to any one who can afford to buy them.

Indeed, patronising pharmaceutical shops seems a better option to most people than going to hospitals, which require long procedures to see a doctor for diagnosis and prescription.

To save time, most people prefer to go to pharmacies for medications.

Unfortunately for regular patrons of pharmaceutical shops, the negative effects of self-medication are lost on them. Such people often boast that they have never stepped foot in a hospital and they self–diagnose.    

Some of these self–acclaimed pharmacists dish out medicine to people because of the profit motive behind the sales and some of these patrons are oblivious to the long-term effects of the medicine on their health.

Health authorities must investigate these pharmaceutical shops to determine whether they are licensed and qualified to operate, and if not their operations should be halted, as some of  them are just in for the money and their activities expose people to serious health risks.

Even though the pharmacies have become the first port of call for most people when they fall sick, pharmacists must refer the individuals to hospitals where they can receive proper medical attention.