The Ministry of Health has warned that it will take legal action against businesses or individuals who promote the sale of products that have not been registered with the ministry. Several civil society organisations called for more frequent inspections of businesses that distribute pharmaceutical products.
Health ministry secretary of state Heng Bun Keat said that the majority of vendors and wholesalers complied with legal standards when it came to the sale of modern or traditional medicine, health supplements, medical equipment or cosmetics.
“Most of them have applied to the ministry for permission to advertise these products. However, some have failed to seek the appropriate approval,” he added.
“The ministry will pursue strict legal action against ant business owners or individuals who continue to promote any kind of products without its permission, in line with the Amendment of the Law on the Management of Pharmaceuticals,” he warned.
Nuth Sambath, president of the Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said that he has observed an increase in ministry inspections and bans on non-registered goods.
“They have seized many illegal products, which I think is a very effective way of dealing with the problem. There are additional difficulties caused by the proliferation of online sellers, and the ministry needs to work with the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, as they are the Kingdom’s internet regulators,” he added.
San Chey, the executive director of the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability, was concerned that some individuals were advertising their products as cures for a range of illnesses, often without medical evidence.
“This misleads the public, and could delay them accessing the correct treatment. Bans have been issued for many of these products, but the bans seem ineffective,” he said.
He hoped that the pertinent institutions would take measures to resolve the issue, while also noting that there are a number of cosmetic products and health supplements on the market which also appear to pose health risks.
Yang Kim Eng, president of the People’s Centre for Development and Peace, agreed that it was important that the health ministry take action against anyone who distributed or promoted unregistered products.
“The ministry must implement inspections on a regular basis so that vendors do not consider the announcement a bluff. Sometimes ‘crackdowns’ are announced, and sellers simply close down their businesses for a short time and then resume promoting their goods,” he said.
