PETALING JAYA: A social media user has claimed that azithromycin, which is a form of antibiotics, is being openly sold at a grocery store in Forest City, Johor.
A user with the X handle @fiholic claimed that azithromycin were being sold like "candies for RM15 a dozen" at a grocery store.
"Azithromycin is an antibiotic that requires prescription. You can't sell them openly, even in legit pharmacies," he further added.
Azitthromycin was a prescription drug used to treat infections including chest infections such as pneumonia as well as ear, nose and throat and infections such as sinus infections, as well as several sexually transmitted diseases.
Reacting to this, some users also highlighted that consuming antibiotics without prescription could lead to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
Taking note of this, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the ministry’s Pharmacy Division will have to take aggressive measures promptly.
ALSO READ: Interpol-led crackdown on illegal meds sold online
On Dec 27, the Health Ministry said unregistered medication, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products worth over RM400,000 had been seized in Malaysia by local authorities as part of the Interpol-coordinated worldwide Operation Pangea XVI.
The Malaysian operations, coordinated by the Health Ministry's Pharmacy Enforcement Division, also involved Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Health Ministry senior director of pharmacy services Norhaliza A. Halim said that 1,675 websites, social media accounts and e-commerce sites selling pharmaceutical products were found to have breached the law.
She said 76% of these were e-commerce platforms.
ALSO READ : Unapproved meds and cosmetics worth RM400,000 seized locally as part of Interpol worldwide ops
"Complaints were lodged with MCMC against these websites, social media platforms and e-commerce sites to restrict access to these sites and for the content to be taken down.
"It was found through the operation this year that there was an increase in the sale of controlled medicines such as psychotropic drugs, painkillers, antibiotics and cough syrup sold by unqualified and unauthorised sellers," she said.
She added that a total of 330 parcels were checked, 58 of which contained unregistered pharmaceutical products that were then seized.
Checks were also conducted at international entry points nationwide, such as air cargo complexes, airports, border checkpoints and ferry terminals.
