Blacklist plan for illegal drug sales

Star: SEREMBAN: Pharmacists and pharmacies will be blacklisted if they are found to be selling drugs, especially those listed under Schedule B, without a doctor’s prescription.
Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek said it was not enough for them to say that the sale was made by their sales assistant.
He said the licence of the pharmacy would be revoked and it would not be allowed to employ another pharmacist.
“They should be responsible as it occurred in their premises,” he told reporters at the ceremony to rename the 38-year-old Seremban Hospital to the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital.
He was commenting on the case of a 25-year-old clerk who was hospitalised for two months after taking antibiotic that her boyfriend bought for her from a coffeeshop in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
He said his ministry was investigating the case.
“It cannot be denied that many pharmacies are doing this sort of thing of late.
“I acknowledge that it is difficult to control such irresponsible practice.
“We have weaknesses in enforcing the law,” he told Bernama.
Dr Chua advised the public to get doctor’s prescription before buying strong drugs and those categorised as poison from pharmacies.
He said the public must not assume that all the drugs sold in pharmacies could be purchased without proper prescription.
“The public must be aware of the risks involved in purchasing drugs without proper prescription. The consequences can be grave,” he said, adding that such practice must be stopped.