The New Age reports that the large-scale theft of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) in the Free State is linked to the needs of illegal miners in Welkom and other areas.  

Many of the miners are believed to be HIV-positive and in dire need of the drugs and ARVs are often stolen from hospitals and taken underground.  The health department believes a syndicate in this regard could be operating in the Welkom area.  In the last month, two cases of medicine theft were reported to the police.  A hospital staffer was among those arrested after being found with large amounts of medicine.  A pharmacy assistant from the Thabong clinic in Welkom was also arrested after 60 containers of ARVs, known as Artroisa, were found at his home.  In November, police arrested two men who were found in possession of stolen ARVs, bottles of cough mixture, painkiller tablets, ointments and other medicines.  The medication was believed to be for the illegal miners working underground.

• Read this report in full at The New Age

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