Foreign remedies easily available

Traditional remedy: Medicines, believed to be unregistered, sold at a shop in Johor.

JOHOR BARU: Illicit medicine smuggled from Indonesia are being sold openly at some sundry shops and a wholesale market in the state.

The products are mostly bought by foreigners who want to boost their libido, or as painkillers and medication for indigestion and asthma.

A check at a shop in Pasir Gudang showed dozens of medication with foreign brands and labels.

These shops cater to foreign workers in the industrial town.

According to a shop staff who declined to be named, they get their stock from a wholesale market in Johor Baru.

“Some of the medicines and products are locally made while the rest are from Indonesia,” said the staff, who also claimed the medication was safe.

It is learnt that some of these medications are also sold at pasar malam in some areas.

Meanwhile, state Health director Dr Salehudden Abd Aziz, when shown the pictures taken from the shop in Pasir Gudang, said they would investigate before taking appropriate action.

He said there were also cases of unregistered medicines being sold at sundry shops, night markets and wholesale markets around Johor.

“We have raided several stalls in the markets as well as sundry shops selling illegal medicines.

“They may contains drugs that should only be taken upon prescription by medical professionals,” he said.

He said the state Health Department seized RM3.75mil worth of unregistered medicine last year.

“Some of these unregistered medicines are also being sold and promoted online.

“We have also set up a Cyber Pharmacy Unit to check unregistered medicine that are being sold online,” he said, adding that 35 raids on the online operation were conducted last year.

Dr Salehudden also urged the public to be cautious with such products and only buy and consume those certified by the Health Ministry, as there could be harmful side effects.

“We have also been conducting campaigns to alert the public on the danger of using unregistered medicines and cosmetic products,” he said.