Dept writes off ‘health products’

By Rebecca Kuku
THE Health Department has warned people that the sale of health products and herbal drinks claimed to cure certain illnesses is illegal.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Sir Puka Temu said individuals, organisations or groups selling such items without any official certification should be reported to his or the Health secretary’s office.
Sir Puka said only hospitals and licenced pharmacies were authorised to sell medicine.
He was responding to reports that some people were going around selling “health products” they claim can cure certain ailments such as cancer.
He said selling of such health products and herbal drink was illegal.
“You can’t go around telling people that your product or herbal juice can cure diseases like cancer or HIV/AIDS without it been proven and certified,” he said.
“You give people false hope and they stop going to hospitals to get prescribed medicines because they believe your product can heal them.
“That is illegal and I appeal to the public to report them so that we can investigate and have them charged.”
He also said some Health Department staff stole medicines from the area medical store and resold them on the streets to make extra money.
“People must report such matters to my office, write to my office or speak to the media about it so that we can look into it and address it,” he said.
Sir Puka said that he wanted people to feel free to report such matters to help save and protect lives.