Steep rise witnessed in MoH medicines robbery, sale in market to pharmacies

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KUWAIT CITY, April 28: The health sources have warned of the increase in ‘stealing’ medicines from the Ministry of Health and stressed on the need to take deterrent action in this regard, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The sources pointed out that the raid on one of the private pharmacy and a clinic is not the first of its kind where the inspectors found medicines sold in the clinic and the pharmacy belonged to the Ministry of Health. He added, the smuggling of medicines continues in defiance of the law.

The sources added that the smuggling of medicines of the Ministry of Health happens through the health centers and public hospitals which are sold by Asians in random markets or in private clinics.

The sources pointed out that the ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding with a non-profit institution to start activating the system of accurate tracking of medicines and medical supplies by ‘barcodes indicating that this system tracks medicines and medical supplies accurately from the moment medicines and medical supplies leave the manufacturer company to stores and pharmacies, until they reach the patient.

Sources said this service is expected to be implemented within a year from now, at the latest, whether in Kuwait or even in the Gulf countries, stressing that it will make a quantum leap in terms of control of the disbursement of medicines, and legalization of use.

Meanwhile, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Food and Drug Control Dr Abdullah Al-Bader has announced the seizure of a pharmacy of a private clinic for selling medicines belonging to the ministry in violation of the law, regulations and ministerial decisions regulating the sale of medicines, reports Al-Rai daily.

Al-Bader said this happened after the committees of the Drug Inspection Department inspected one of the private medical clinics and the pharmacy and found large quantities of medicines belonging to the Ministry of Health and others not registered with the Ministry and allegedly smuggled from some neighboring and East Asian countries. He pointed out after the completion of the official investigation the case will be transferred to the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Health.

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