Stringent action against pharmacies

19 April 2011 12:58 pm - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The Health Ministry today said it will take stringent action against pharmacists if medicine is sold without a medical prescription or if medicine that is not been prescribed is sold to customers at higher prices.

Ministry officials said that if pharmacy owners do not adhere to the new rules a Rs.300,000 fine or a one year jail term will be put into force. The Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Act will be amended to this effect.

Officials said Health Minister, Maithripala Sirisena had advised the Director of the National Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority, Dr. Hemantha Benaragama to take measures to amend the existing Act to include higher penalties for offending pharmacists.

The Ministry said that the selling of drugs over the counter without valid prescriptions and the sale of unprescribed medicines is a growing trend which was some of the main findings in the report. Officials said the report also indicated that the use of old prescriptions to re-purchase the same medicine for a sickness often resulted in an anti-drug resistance phenomenon which is harmful to consumers.

Officials also said that it is also a harmful trend and makes it financially impossible for customers to buy medicine. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 6

tharanga Tuesday, 19 April 2011 01:12 PM

is it health minister,the only working minister in SL? hats off to minister health... go ahead

thinker Tuesday, 19 April 2011 01:48 PM

These mesures will help create more opportunities for enforcing Govt officers/ Police to earn more in bribes. Isn't that our culture?

MagodisThuma Tuesday, 19 April 2011 03:42 PM

First catch the pharmacies running without a Pharmacist...In Matara out of 24 only three pharmacies are run by Pharmacists !.

gayan Tuesday, 19 April 2011 03:57 PM

Mr. Minister, Introduce a law for Doctors to proscribe medicine in generic names and not by brand names

harini Tuesday, 19 April 2011 03:53 PM

A new way to earn commissions!

sjayasinghe Tuesday, 19 April 2011 04:18 PM

People go directly to pharmacy to buy medicine because Doctors charge exorbitant fees.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Stringent action against pharmacies

Comments - 6

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

New Visa procedure implemented

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

A US “Kaputa”, a Lankan “Nariya” and a Presidential “Feast”

MIRROR CRICKET

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

TODAY'S HEADLINES

SL took minimal steps to punish officials who committed human rights abuses: US report

Iranian President’s visit Sri Lanka withstands western pressure

25 tons of solid waste disposed along Sri Pada route

Temperature rises to ‘Caution’ level

Sri Lanka secures third spot in South Asian Kurash Championship 2024

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Army forms committee to probe Diyatalawa Fox Hill Supercross accident

Indian cricket manager indicted for Legend Cricket League match-fixing allegations