Monrovia – The Lucky Development Corporation that runs the chain of Lucky Pharmacies across Liberia says its effort to supply quality drugs to rural Liberia is being impeded by the sales of illegal drug from across the borders.
Report by James Harding Giahyue – [email protected]
In an interview over the weekend, Lucky Development Corporation Sam Jhamnani said Liberian government — the National Drug Service, Pharmacy Board of Liberia and the Ministry of Health — appreciated his effort to spread to the interior of the country but said the sales illegal drug trade was undermining his efforts.
We are facing some problem,” said Jhamnani.
“The trade of illegal drugs from across the borders is affecting our business.”
He said people preferred the illegal substandard drugs to quality ones being sold by his pharmacy.
Jhamnani added that the illegal sale of substandard drugs was presenting his business with an unfair competition as such drugs are not tested or registered.
He blamed the smuggling of drugs into the country on the porosity of the Liberian borders that makes it not difficult for the thriving of the drug market.
Liberia has 176 major border points of which a meager 46 are being manned by immigration officers, according to the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization.
“Tighten the border and stop the illegal import of drugs through the borders. They are trying with their resources but they need to do more,” he called on authorities.
However, Jhamnani has called on the Liberian government to develop an inland water transport system, where ferries can transport goods and services across counties to ease the burden and dependency on the road, and boost the Liberian economy.
Present in Ganta, Buchanan, Foya, Pleebo, Greenville, Gbarnga, Zwedru and Kakata, Lucky Pharmacy has already invested more than US$1 million outside of Monrovia and its environs, Jhamnani said.
He said there was a real resolve to move deeper in the hinterland to take quality services to the people but his efforts were being impeded by bad road networks, especially during the rainy season.
“The most difficult challenge is the road condition, especially in the rainy season, which is hard to transport the trucks,” he told FrontPage Africa.
“Sometimes, we spend one week or 10 days on the road with drugs, and drugs are commodities that should be handled with care.
“I want to make a request to investors for investment in the water transport sector, which I think is more economical and comfortable for the Liberian people also.
“If we can do water transport from Monrovia to all the ports—River Cess, Buchanan and Sinoe—it will be fine.”
Jhamani said it would not be a problem to run an effective water transport system because has six major rivers and a coastline of 350 miles long to make a faster water transport sector.
“If you compare the cost of repairing the roads to that of bringing ferries, I think it will be more economical [to invest in the water transportation sector]. It will boost the economy of Liberia,” he said.
Apart from the eight branches in those eight counties, Lucky Pharmacy has six branches in Monrovia—Old Road, Sinkor, Red Light, Duala, Paynesville Joe Bar and Newkru Town.
“It has an association with the Indo Liberian Pharmacy that runs three branches on Carey Street, Red Light and Kakata highway.
Lucky Pharmacy is a leading portfolio of products and medicines that support health and prevention.”
“It has registered 381 products and enlisted 771 medical devices with Liberia Medical Health Regulatory Authority. “
“It is also a leading supplier of drug and medical equipment to nongovernmental organizations, hospitals and clinics.
Jhamnani: “My plan is to provide quality health system to every county in Liberia.”
“Since independence, no real modern pharmacy has been in the interior but at least I am trying to open modern pharmacy.”
“People living in the rural arear deserve good medication”.
“We are doing business and it is our responsibility to see the supply of quality healthcare all over Liberia. People living outside of Monrovia have not been getting sufficient attention.
“We are opening branches across the counties because as a responsible professional person in the pharmaceutical sector, Monrovia is not Liberia and we must open quality pharmaceutical sector in every county.”
“We are trying to supply quality drug in every corner of Liberia, especially the rural areas like Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe and Lofa Counties.”