Malawian Drugs Dominate Johannesburg’s Black Market Amid Local Shortages

While Malawians are being turned away from public hospitals due to severe medicine shortages, Johannesburg’s black market for pharmaceuticals is thriving, with smuggled medicines from Malawi readily available.

According to GroundUp, a South African-based news agency, the black market in Johannesburg is booming with medicines such as antibiotics, contraceptives, and antihistamines. These are primarily smuggled from Malawi, with some also coming from Zimbabwe.

Immigrants who face challenges accessing healthcare at clinics and hospitals due to documentation issues often turn to these informal sources for medication.

One of the informal vendors, Melina (not her real name), a Malawian immigrant, has been running a home-based pharmacy in Johannesburg for years. She sells pills at R2 each, offering wholesale prices to resellers. Her business has grown rapidly, as she explained:

“I saw an opportunity and decided to use it. People don’t need a passport or ID to buy medicine from me, and I charge only R2 per pill. It’s barely month-end, and a box of medicine I ordered from Malawi two weeks ago is already finished; my business is booming,” Melina said.

For some immigrants like Mada Beni, buying medicine from these vendors is more reliable than visiting clinics.

“I know that medicine from my country is strong; that is why I trust it. What’s the purpose of visiting the clinic if they are going to chase me away or tell me to go and get treated in my country?” Beni stated.

However, the availability of prescription drugs without proper regulation raises serious health concerns. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) warns that uncontrolled sale of pharmaceuticals can contribute to antimicrobial resistance.

SAHPRA spokesperson Madimetja Mashishi highlighted efforts to combat the influx of unauthorized medicines, saying they are working with law enforcement and the Border Management Agency to intercept illegal imports.

Meanwhile, Malawi’s public hospitals continue to struggle with severe drug shortages, leaving patients with little choice but to seek costly private alternatives.

Malawi24