With reference to what have been circulated in some websites and through mobile phones regarding a generalization issued by one of the Directorates of Health Affairs in the Kingdom, whereby issuance of medical preparations containing pseudoephedrine are prohibited unless as per medical subscription, the Ministry of Health would like to inform that the MOH Drug Registration Committee (SRC) has studied the issue, taking into consideration the recommendations of international bodies such as the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). Accordingly, and since such drugs don’t involve side effects requiring their recalling from the markets, SRC recommends their enlisting within the non subscription drugs (Drugs which can be purchased form pharmacies without medical subscription). MOH has notified drug companies to add the necessary precautions to their internal usage guide sheets, including the precaution that such drugs must not be issued to children under two years of age unless as per medical subscription and that the medical care must be resumed in cases of non improvement within 7 days of usage.
MOH would like to notify all citizens and residents to be cautious in dealing with the rumors circulated through the Internet. MOH has allotted a free telephone line (8002494444) for the enquiries relative to drugs.