Saudi, British FMs discuss regional developments in phone call    Saudi Arabia unveils new skill-based system for expatriate work permits Classification for existing workers began on June 18 while July 1 set for newcomers    New Saudi embassy building inaugurated in Moscow    Nearly 17 million foreign pilgrims perform Umrah in 2024, up 101% from 2022 Makkah ranks 5th globally in number of international visitors    Saudi Arabia reaffirms dedication to achieving equitable and sustainable digital development    Over 80,000 commercial registrations issued in 2Q 2025, bringing total to 1.7 million    Elon Musk announces launch of new political party amid fallout with Trump    UK Foreign Secretary makes historic visit to Syria    Khamenei makes first public appearance since Iran–Israel war    Desperate search continues as Texas flood kills 51, including 15 children 27 girls from summer camp still missing    Riot Games responds to match-fixing allegations in VALORANT    BLAST responds to BESTIA Visa controversy ahead of CS2 Austin major    Christophe Galtier named NEOM SC head coach ahead of historic Saudi Pro League debut    Level Up Docuseries launches June 6 on Prime Video    OPEC+ further accelerates oil output hike by 548,000 bpd in August    Saudi Arabia tops global ICT Development Index for 2025    Michael Madsen, actor of 'Kill Bill' and 'Reservoir Dogs' fame, dead at 67    BTS are back: K-pop band confirm new album and tour    Michelin Guide launches in Saudi Arabia with phased rollout in 2025    'How fragile we are': Roskilde Festival tragedy remembered 25 years on    Sholay: Bollywood epic roars back to big screen after 50 years with new ending    Ministry launches online booking for slaughterhouses on eve of Eid Al-Adha    Shah Rukh Khan makes Met Gala debut in Sabyasachi    Pakistani star's Bollywood return excites fans and riles far right    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



20% of pharmacies sell regulated drugs without prescription
By Muhammad Dawoud, Saleh Al-Olaiyani and Abdulmuhsin Al-Harthi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 04 - 10 - 2011

An alarming 20 percent of pharmacists will supply regulated drugs to a customer without a prescription if he is a personal acquaintance, an Okaz/Saudi Gazette investigation report shows.
Most of these drugs are to enhance sexual performance, which some pharmacists insist are “not as risky as medications for psychological sicknesses and cancer”. The report also found that pharmacies often sell antibiotics to customers after briefly listening to their complaint.
Selling drugs without prescription is risky and pharmacists must abide by an over-the-counter medications guide regulating their sale. However sexual and psychological-related drugs, cancer medications and antibiotics can only be sold after looking at a prescription from a recognized medical practitioner.
Dr. Ridha Mahmoud Matbouli, urology consultant at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz University Hospital,
says that it is not just some pharmacists who are at fault. “There's the patient himself who after listening to a friend's advice does not want to consult a doctor but prefers privacy when buying aphrodisiac drugs.”
This puts customers at a major risk because important factors are not taken into account which may affect the drug and more importantly the customer's health. Before prescribing any new medicine, a doctor must take into account various factors such as the patient's medical history or whether he is currently taking any other medicines.
“If the patient suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or other conditions, some medicines may prove harmful,” Matbouli said.
In pharmacies in the Eastern Province, an Okaz/Saudi Gazette reporter pretending to be a patient, failed to obtain the drugs he asked for without prescription. Some pharmacies sold him drugs for mild diseases like the flu. But most followed the healthcare regulations, knowing the risks involved and the possibility of being stripped of their licenses.
In Riyadh, pharmacists in general were very strict and would not sell sexual-related drugs without a prescription, but some sold antibiotics after inquiring about the patients' symptoms.
Dr. Sami Badawood, Director of Jeddah Health Affairs, called on all pharmacies to sell certain over-the-counter drugs permitted in an official guide.
“There are teams who inspect pharmacies for violations. If a violation of that kind is found the pharmacist will be investigated and the pharmacy closed, and a fine reaching SR100,000 could be imposed,” he warned. __


Clic here to read the story from its source.