Pharmacies told: Ensure quality of drugs

by Ananda KANNANGARA

Health Minister Mithreepala Sirisena has warned owners of over 3,000 pharmacies countrywide to be vigilant over the expiry date and the quality of medicines they hold and directed that they have air-conditioning facilities in their pharmacies to ensure the quality of drugs.

Accordingly, the annual registration of pharmacies will not be renewed by the Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA) unless the owners, air-condition their pharmacies.

The CDDRA has the authority to check the quality of medicines in the country.

Minister Sirisena told the Sunday Observer that all new pharmacies should have air-conditioning facilities and that no registration will be given. All pharmacies should have this facility within the next six months.

A senior CDDRA spokesman said that a minimum temperature of 24 Celsius should be maintained by pharmacies to keep medicine afresh and air-conditioning facilities are needed to maintain this temperature.