Fake pharmacies swallow bitter pill

Nadira Gunatilleke

Two hundred private pharmacies selling expired and banned drugs were nabbed by the special unit of the National Drug Control Authority during a single day countrywide raid. These pharmacies had sold drugs without prescriptions and they did not have qualified and trained pharmacists, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said.

The sources said that cases were filed against 54 private pharmacies and 24 were found guilty.

The other cases are pending. The Government earned Rs. 1.8 million by imposing fines on these private pharmacies.

The unit will continue to raid private pharmacies to track down places selling expired drugs, banned drugs and drugs without prescriptions.

Sources said many private pharmacies do not have qualified and trained pharmacists.