Tougher laws in Bahrain are result of negligence by pharmacies

Tougher laws in Bahrain are result of negligence by pharmacies

She added that individuals and establishments were profiteering from the sale of, and trade in, mainly partially-controlled medicines such as growth hormones and anti-depression pills.

“We have to be more strict with pharmacies and chemists through tougher punishments because there is a lot at stake here as medicines are getting into the wrong hands,” said Dr Al Jalahma.

“Mainly partially-controlled medicines such as growth hormones and anti-depression pills are reaching teenagers and youths,” she added.

“Having more control ensures that we know medicines reach those who are actually sick and need them, not those seeking a substitute for narcotics or intoxicants.”She added that doctors, consultants and medics would have to continue buying the pink prescription slips from the Health Ministry until the service is moved online.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly yesterday approved amendments to the 1997 Pharmacy Profession and Pharmaceutical Practises Organisational Law and referred it to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification.Reservations were expressed by Chairman Ali Saleh Al Saleh and first vice-chairman Jamal Fakhro who said that the punishments were extremely tough, equating people selling expired medicines with smugglers and dealers.

The GDN earlier reported that under the revised rules, those who set up a facility or factory to sell