Reporter - Ei Phyu Mon
Yangon, 10 October

Holland-made multivitamin tablets which are being distributed free of charge by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) are entering the drug market at a high price, according to some consumers.

Daw Khin Mi Mi Khine, who takes vitamin tablets on a regular basis, said she has been buying the medicine in question at the rate of Kyat 350 per tablet at the recommendation of a pharmacist since she was not aware that it is a medicine handed out by international non-governmental organizations (INGOs).

"I do not have a clue that these pills are given free by NGOs. I have been taking them as a pharmacist told me the medicine is of good quality, will boost my appetite and help me sleep well. Well, it is really effective as he said. I have been taking them regularly for nearly five months by now. It costs me Kyat 350 a tablet which is not available in all the shops. Last week, I could not take it for three days as my supply ran out and I could not buy them again," she said.

According an AIDS patient who is undergoing treatment at a clinic run by an INGO, the medicine is a restorative given to HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis patients and some of the unscrupulous patients are apparently selling them back to the pharmacies.

"These multivitamin tablets are for HIV patients who are going through the rehabilitation process. When some patients find out that it is available in the drug market, they sell back their medicines instead of taking them," the patient told the 7Day News Journal on the condition of anonymity.

When a pharmacy from Mingalar Drug Wholesale Market was enquired by phone about this medicine, U Aung Kyaw Htut from RBB Medicine Shop said that the multivitamin tablets were available in the market a few months ago although no pharmacy has them in its stock currently. He explained not only a number of individuals come to sell them but some drug companies also distributing them in the market.

Source : 7Day News Journal, 18 Octoberr 2007