Consumers can end sale of fake medicines: Yeo
Published on: Sunday, September 25, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Consumers are the ones who can put an end to the sale of imitation pharmaceutical drugs at 'tamus' and shops in Sabah, Mayor Datuk Yeo Boon Hai said Saturday.He said when consumers stop buying, sellers will eventually stop selling."Not everything that's cheap is good," he told reporters after opening the State-level World Pharmacists Day at Suria Sabah.
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Yeo said he received complaints about imitation drugs being sold at 'tamus' and shops in the city as well as various places in the State.He admitted, however, that efforts to curb the selling of fake medicines in the market by local and health authorities have been a "cat and mouse" game."So it's up to consumers. They must make a wise choice (before purchasing the medicines)," he said, disclosing that many of them have been brought into the market from countries like China and Indonesia.On the other hand, Yeo said consumers must be continuously educated about the dangers of consuming unregistered pharmaceutical drugs.
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World Pharmacists Day falls on Sept 25 every year and is now in its sixth year. It is used by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) members around the world to highlight the impact and added value of the pharmacy profession and its role in improving health to authorities, other professions and the media, as well as to the general public.State Health Department Director Dr Christina Rundi said in her speech that she has seen a lot of positive development in the pharmaceutical service in Sabah, especially in the field of clinical pharmacy.
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She pointed out that unlike 20 years ago, pharmacists today carry the responsibility in monitoring patients' medicinal therapy, ensure they get the best pharmacotherapy, provide medicinal counselling and help to minimise or prevent side effects or complications.She also noted some of the brilliant initiatives taken by pharmacists in adding value to their services to the public as emphasised by the Health Ministry.According to the State Health Department Deputy Director (Pharmacy) Mohd Zamri Baharudin, one of the value added services is the Drive Through service which is available at Queen Elizabeth, Keningau and Lahad Datu hospitals, as well as health clinics in Sandakan and Putatan, to enable clients to get medicines without waiting at the pharmacy counter.Another service, she said, that is available at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and QEH2, Tawau as well as the Duchess of Kent in Sandakan, Luyang health clinic and the Sabah Women and Children's Hospital, is the UMP1M where medicines can be posted to patients' address at a minimal fee. Mohd Zamri said in addition to these, communities in the interior and those who are located far from hospitals they are being referred to can now have access to pharmacy service.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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