In line with its commitment to implement all regulations in order to ensure the health and safety of patients and to improve efficiency and quality of health services, the Ministry of Health (MOH) continues its supervisory campaign launched last week to ensure implementation of the decision not to dispense antibiotics without a prescription. MOH's inspection teams visited more than 4,433 pharmacies across the Kingdom and reported 150 violations.
MOH has launched a supervisory campaign to ensure compliance with the decision not to dispense antibiotics without a prescription on all pharmacies in the Kingdom, stressing that doctor shall recommend in writing to repeat the recipe when needed, with a copy retained by the patient. Also, the pharmacist may dispense an alternative drug. MOH called upon everyone to report any violation through the (937) service center.
MOH has warned against selling antibiotics without prescriptions and highlighted the importance of abiding by the provisions of the Executive Regulations of Health Practice Law which prohibits the pharmacist from dispensing any drug without a prescription issued by a doctor with a license to practice in the Kingdom.
It stated that violators will face legal actions which include a fine of up to 100 thousand riyals, abolition of the license and imprisonment for up to six months, where taking over-the-counter antibiotics poses a great risk for society and affects public health.