KUWAIT CITY, De 25: Minister of Health Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi has issued ministerial decisions ordering the closure of 15 private pharmacies and the cancellation of their operating licenses after investigations confirmed that they had committed serious violations of Law No. 28 of 1996 and its subsequent amendments. The action followed extensive inspection campaigns conducted by the Ministry of Health’s pharmaceutical and food control committees.

In an official statement, the ministry said inspection teams uncovered a range of technical and administrative violations committed by license holders and pharmacists at the affected establishments. These included improper drug-dispensing procedures and practices that contravene regulations governing the circulation of pharmaceutical preparations and medical products. Such violations, the ministry noted, represent a clear breach of professional safety standards and consumer rights, and pose a direct risk to drug security, quality, and patient safety.

The statement added that Dr. Al-Awadhi directed the ministry’s inspection committees, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to enforce the final closure of the violating pharmacies and to refer those responsible to the Public Prosecution to complete all necessary legal الإجراءات. This step, the ministry stressed, is aimed at upholding the authority of the law and ensuring deterrence against any practices that threaten public health or endanger patients.

The ministerial decisions also include the immediate removal of all unlicensed advertisements linked to the offending pharmacies, whether written, audio, or visual. The ministry emphasized the importance of full compliance with regulations governing pharmaceutical advertising and strictly prohibited the promotion of medicines outside officially approved channels.

The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its firm commitment to maintaining strict oversight of the pharmaceutical sector and to enforcing all relevant laws and regulations without exception. It stressed that it will not hesitate to take the toughest possible measures against any individual or entity that compromises patient safety or misuses professional licenses.

Concluding its statement, the ministry underscored that safeguarding public health is a national priority that cannot be compromised. It added that the healthcare system will continue to strengthen its monitoring and inspection mechanisms to ensure the quality, safety, and secure availability of medicines for all patients.