The government has threatened pharmacies that continue to charge in US dollars, and those overpricing their products with unspecified action.
Some retail pharmacies, while discontinuing charging in foreign currency, have resorted to pegging prices against the prevailing parallel market rates for that particular day.
Speaking during a post-cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo said:
It’s now law that you cannot charge in United States dollars. Whichever pharmacy is found flouting that law will face the consequences.
The law is very clear so we advise everybody who is a pharmacist and who owns a pharmacy not to overcharge customers and to also stop charging in United States dollars.
The government last month banned the use of foreign currency in all domestic transactions and made the Zimbabwe Dollar the sole legal tender.
It is now a criminal offence for a business to sell goods or services in foreign currency.