In the southern Tunisian city of Gafsa, Viagra and other prescription drugs and various expired cosmetics are sold on the street. Medical and semi-medical products from numerous sources and usages are in great demand for their cheap price. All this goes unmonitored by the government.

In the southern Tunisian city of Gafsa, Viagra and other prescription drugs and various expired cosmetics are sold on the street. Medical and semi-medical products from numerous sources and usages are in great demand for their cheap price. All this goes unmonitored by the government.

Customers all over the world usually rush to have products that help them lose weight and obtain a slim body. But, in the city of Gafsa, Southern Tunisia, a product named “Fast Fattener” is in high demand. Produced in Algeria, this product is a mixture of almonds, honey and various fruits and is recommended for people trying to gain weight. However, its packaging does not include any production or expiration dates, despite the fact that its ingredients quickly rot.

Spread after the revolution

Selling knock-off and contraband products have long been spread in Gafsa for its geographical location and proximity to the Algerian border. Since the revolution of January 14, 2011, however, selling drugs and medical products on pavements in front of the central market in Gafsa have increased, especially by bearded men who refused to talk to the media.

Quadragenarian Ahmed S. stood before a table of one meter width and one and half a meter height, contemplating the products placed on it. He asked the bearded man in a white shirt to prepare a perfume for him. The “expert” started mixing bizarre materials of unknown sources and unknown mixing results. Ahmed then took the small bottle and paid the seller 10 dinars (US $ 6) after which he quickly left the place.

The reviver

When asked about the 10-dinar bottle of perfume, the seller smiled and said, “Tunisians are still embarrassed to buy the blue pill. Therefore, they pretend to buy a perfume when they’re actually buying the ‘reviver.’”

“I have red and blue pills,” said the seller and continued as if he had been a specialist, “The blue pill is valid for twenty-four hours whereas the red one is valid for a week and five dinars is an acceptable price for a week’s worth.”

Some girls gathered around another seller who had perfumes and moisturizing creams. “Princess” – maybe an alias she used in hope of becoming one someday – bought different types of creams in preparation for her wedding early next summer.

When she was asked whether she trusted these cosmetics, sun creams, eyeliners, lipsticks and nail polish, she replied, “These products are definitely not of a good quality as those in stores, but their cheap prices tempt us to ignore the difference, especially when I only use them on special occasions, rather than on a daily basis.”

Poor girl’s luck

Faten S. agreed with “Princess” and added, “The knock-off products attract the poor since a girl can buy everything she needs with only 10 dinars.”

Amani who only took a look at these products said, “Before January 14, I had a kind of trust towards these products and sellers despite my reluctance to buy knock-off goods. But, today the government’s control is completely absent and the religious appearance of sellers does not make me trust them.” She added with contempt, “Militants selling lipstick?”

Ayman, a young man in his twenties, was selling creams and skin ointments, including an ointment used for leprosy and psoriasis that had been expired for over three months. When asked about how he could sell an expired drug, he replied, “I do not care. I only care for my share of selling each product.”

Health risk

Dr. Numan said knock-off cosmetics were dangerous regardless of their expiration date since they cause allergies, skin irritation and might result in changing skin color. He recommended not to use products from an unknown source.

Head of Health Protection Department Omar Abdali stressed that the Ministry of Health intervened through a team comprising representatives of a number of ministries, but their mission was limited to verify the validity of the product. He added that after January 14, it became difficult to monitor all vendors, and that in order to reduce this phenomenon, all concerned authorities should enforce the law and control borders to combat the smuggling of such goods. Abdali underlined that even if these products were valid, exposing them to the sun on pavements would damage them.