With regard to the issue entitle “Medication must not be sold without Prescription” on the Star Newspaper, dated 29th August 2016, Ministry of Health Malaysia has been enforcing a strict regulation for dispensing of medications under the Poisons Act 1952. The sale and supply of medications containing controlled substances, such as antibiotics, anti-hypertensive, antidiabetic, sex stimulants and slimming drugs can only be supplied by a registered medical practitioner to the patient for the purposes of medical treatment only. The category of these medicines is under Group B. Thus, these dispensed medicines can only be supplied by registered pharmacists upon prescription by medical practitioner.
All medicines supplied and dispensed must be labelled correctly according to the law. However, for medicines that fall under the category C (as in Poison List), Pharmacist can dispense those medicines without prescription and the particulars must be recorded in the Prescription Book (Sec 24, Poison Act 1952).
Any person guilty of an offence under this Act, shall be prosecuted under the Poisons Act 1952. Upon conviction, this person shall be fined up to RM 3,000 or imprisonment not exceeding one year imprisonment or both.
Thank you.
Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah
Director-General of Health Malaysia
4th September 2016
