Don't Buy Medicines Without Doctor's Prescription Says Chua

SEREMBAN, July 27 (Bernama) -- A lot of pharmacies dispensed medicines, including those categorised as poison, without doctor's prescription, Health Minister Datuk Dr Chua Soi Lek revealed Thursday.
"It cannot be denied that so 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 said but added that some pharmacies have been blacklisted for flouting the law.
He was commenting on the case of Goh Yee Ling, 25, who was hospitalised for two months after taking antibiotic that her boyfriend bought for her from a coffee shop in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
He said his ministry was investigating Goh's case.
Chua advised the public to get doctor's prescription before buying strong drugs and those categorised as poison from the 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.