In the wake of growing concerns over the sale of medicines without prescriptions, the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) asserts that it takes action against pharmacies found issuing antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription.

The regulator stated that medicine inspectors were being used to investigate such practices when complaints were received regarding them. 

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, NMRA Chairperson Dr. Ananda Wijewickrama said that although certain over-the-counter (OTC) medications could be legally issued without a prescription, other medicines could only be dispensed through registered pharmacies on a valid prescription.

“For instance, antibiotics must always be dispensed on a valid prescription and issuing them without one is a serious violation. We continue to receive complaints about pharmacies disregarding these rules. We investigate such incidents whenever there are complaints and take action,” he added.

The regulator’s remarks come after the Society of Government Pharmacists’ cautioned that the practice of dispensing medicines without prescriptions or the supervision of qualified pharmacists was putting lives at risk.

Addressing a media briefing recently, the society’s Chairperson Ajith Thilakaratne charged that the lack of regulation and professional oversight in dispensing medicines had already led to serious health complications.