Heavier Penalties Under Amended Poisons Act

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- The amended Poisons Act 1952 that will be tabled in Parliament soon provides for heavier penalties against those who commit offences related to possession and dispensing of scheduled poisons.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the ministry had prepared the draft bill which, among other things, empowers pharmacy enforcement officers to detain, arrest and conduct an inspection on those suspected to have violated the act.
The act was being amended to overcome the illegal sale of scheduled poisons, including antibiotics, he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat, here.
Chua was replying to a question from Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) on the mechanism to enforce the Poisons Act 1952 and the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998 as well as the ministry's measures to overcome the illegal sale of antibiotics.
He said that according to the Poisons Act, all premises selling poisons should be licensed and adhere to guidelines in the act, including the sale of poisons according to several classes.
For example, he said poisons in Class B could only be sold with the prescription of a doctor while those in Class A were prohibited from sale in the market and were only used for research.
Chua said the pharmacy enforcement officers would raid premises selling the scheduled poisons (including antibiotics) without a licence and those that sell or dispense scheduled poisons without adherence to the act.
On the Private Healthcare Facilities & Services Act 1998, he said 7,350 clinics had been registered with a registration fee of RM1,500 per clinic.
"The act stipulates that each clinic should have the most basic of facilities and equipment for patients," he said.