How ARV drug gang was arrested
STING OPERATION NABS HEALTH OFFICIALS WHO SOLD FREE MEDICINES TO DESPERATE PATIENTS
AN illicit drug syndicate selling ARV medication has been uncovered at the Esselen Street Clinic in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.
Yesterday, after six months of investigation, police arrested two health officials who were caught during a sting operation by intelligence agents.
HIV/Aids patients were tricked by clinic employees into thinking that there was no medication available. Then the officials would claim to have a reserve supply that they would sell at prices ranging from R50 to R100.
The clinic is a public facility, where patients should be offered the drugs free of charge.
A 38-year-old Johannesburg man, who is a patient at the clinic and asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said he was forced to pay just to get his full ARV treatment. The man said clinic staff would withhold medication “unless you paid them money”.
“You would go to the clinic on the appointed date and they would tell you there was no medication,” said the father of three.
He said at some point clinic staff offered to sell him the medication.
The man, who has been on treatment since last year, said this had been happening for months but patients were to afraid too speak out. “It felt like I was being held to ransom. I didn’t have a choice since my life was in the hands of someone else who decides whether to give me medication or not,” the man said.
After much frustration, he con- tacted the Kaya FM news team.
Kaya FM reporter Nomsa Zwane said syndicate members preferred to meet clients at public places such as parks and restaurants. Zwane alerted the police. Police spokesman LieutenantColonel Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that two men were arrested and charged with theft and the possession of prescribed medication.
Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko said the arrest would go a long way in fighting such corruption. “It is unfortunate that this act of criminality is perpetrated by officials entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring dispersal of these resources to the needy,” she said.
Dlamini said this was the first operation of its kind in the area.
He said the suspects would appear in the Hillbrow Magistrate’s Court today.
Marcus Low, of the Treatment Action Campaign, called for more investigations into ARV theft.
In January 2011, Moses Dladla, 41, and Johannes Mahlangu, 44, appeared in Kempton Park Magistrate ’ s Court for allegedly stealing ARVs worth about R200 000.
They were arrested in Olifantsfontein after allegedly being found with stolen antiretrovirals.