Ministry to get tough with private pharmacies

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: Pharmacists in private pharmacies should get through examinations after following the External Pharmacist Training Course made available through the Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry free, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said.

The sources said this has been made compulsory by Healthcare and Nutrition Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva under the National Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Act. De Silva had warned all pharmacy owners not to buy drugs brought from India in luggages illegally.

He also stated that if a patient dies or is subjected to severe health problems due to the use of those drugs, the pharmacy owner should take the responsibility. All pharmacy owners will be educated on this issue shortly and if the pharmacy owners continue to sell illegal drugs they will be raided and punished under the same Act.

Explaining the procedure, the Minister had stated that the measures have been taken not to suppress the private sector but to strengthen it through a quality service.