Out-of-date medicine Drug stores told to work within the laws
THE Consumer Council of Fiji is reminding pharmacies and other medical drug retailers to take expired medications off the shelves and not retail them to consumers.
This comes after an over-thecounter (OTC) medication recently purchased by a consumer from a pharmacy in Suva turned out to be expired.
According to the Consumer Council of Fiji chief executive officer, Seema Shandil, the consumer made this discovery when he checked the product’s expiry date after consuming the medication.
She said the consumer was surprised to see the medication he was sold on December 4, 2021, had already expired in September 2021.
“If you own a pharmacy, ensure you practise within the laws stipulated and not engage in fraudulent practices such as selling expired medication,” she said.
“A well-run pharmacy or drug store would have procedures in place for ensuring expired and near expiry products are taken off the shelf.”
It was stated the council had prompted an investigation after the above matter was reported and appropriate compensation was made to the consumer by the pharmacy in question.
It was revealed during investigations, that the pharmacy in question did not specify the name of the medication on the receipt issued to the consumer.
The receipt, as a proof of purchase, was rendered invalid and the medication was listed as “refill” in the receipt.
“By failing to specify the name or itemising OTC medications in the receipts, pharmacies are infringing on consumers right to redress and the right to be informed,” said Ms Shandil.
“This means if consumers are sold expired or wrong medications and go back to the pharmacy for redress, pharmacies can simply say that the medications were not sold by them.
“This is quite a worrisome practice.”
After the council warned the pharmacy, an intensive surveillance of all major pharmacies around the country was conducted.
It was discovered that four out of 14 pharmacies surveyed in the Central Division was not listing the name of OTC medications in the receipts.
All the pharmacies surveyed in the Western and Northern divisions were stated to have specified the name of the medications in the receipts.
CCoF stated for prescribed medications, pharmacies could withhold from mentioning the name of the medication in the receipts due to consumer privacy purposes, however, must state the prescription number.
Finally, consumers were being urged by the council to lodge complaints against any pharmacy or medical drug retailer who was found to be selling expired products or failing to specify the name of the OTC medication in the receipts.
Consumers could report the matter via the council’s National Consumer Helpline 155, or email complaints@consumersfiji.org.
Consumers could also lodge their complaints using the Consumer Council of Fiji mobile app.