Terrence Mawawa|Health and Child Minister, Obadiah Moyo has warned that pharmacies that are demanding US dollars for the purchasing of drugs risk losing their operating licences.

Speaking during a question and answer session in the Senate today Moyo has said the government will launch a headhunt for defiant pharmacies that continue to demand United States dollars for the purchasing of drugs despite the scarcity of the greenback.

“We have received reports about pharmacies that are demanding payment of drugs in US dollars. That is totally unacceptable.

Our message is very clear, we expect retail pharmacies to cooperate with us in our quest to ensure the affordability of drugs,” said Moyo.

Chronically ill patients are struggling to purchase essential drugs as a result of the biting shortage of foreign currency.