Tough action against pharmacies selling hospital drugs

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The Health Ministry will take stern action against private pharmacies selling drugs carrying the Government's logo.

The Ministry has conducted a series of awareness programs in all districts for pharmacists and their assistants on selling drugs to customers with the government logo.

A pharmacy owner in Pettah was apprehended by Health Ministry investigation officers last year during a raid and the pharmacy was sealed until the investigation was completed.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena told the Sunday Observer that it was also the duty of customers to thoroughly check the bottles that contain medicine and tablets carrying the government logo on them. He said it was not ethical for private pharmacies to sell drugs available at Government hospitals to customers at higher prices.

He also stressed the need to introduce strict penalties on people especially workers in the Health Department who pilfer drugs from hospitals and sell them to private pharmacies.

He said steps have been already taken to detect pharmacies and drug outlets that sell outdated medicine and low quality drugs.

Some pharmacies and drug outlets islandwide sell outdated drugs and medicines by changing the label that gives the date of expiry.