XN000022-1983-04-04 — Page 5

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MONDAY, APRIL 4. 1983

CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL MEDICINE DEALERS

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THE FORENSIC PHARMACY SECTION OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS INTENSIFIED MEASURES TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS OF PART ONE POISONS AND ANTIBIOTICS BY WHOLESALE DEALERS.

THE CHIEF PHARMACIST OPERATIONS, MR K.Y. LI SAID STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT ALL WHOLESALE DEALERS WILL COLLECT SIGNED DOCUMENTS FROM BUYERS TO SUPPORT ALL ENTRIES IN THE SALE OF PART ONE POISONS AND ANTIBIOTICS.

+WE HAVE SENT OUT CIRCULARS TO ALL WHOLESALE DEALERS ASKING THEM TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS CONTAINED IN THE PHARMACY AND POISONS REGULATIONS, SAID MR LI.

+WE WILL INITIATE PROSECUTIONS AGAINST THOSE WHO FAIL TO KEEP RECEIPTS FOR THE SALE OF SUCH DRUGS, HE ADDED.

THE PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE RECENTLY RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT SALESMEN OF WHOLESALE DRUGS DEALERS HAVE BEEN USING THE NAMES OF AUTHORISED PERSONS TO BUY CONTROLLED DRUGS FROM THE IR COMPANY AND THEN SELLING THEM ILLEGALLY.

THE TOUGH MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICE ARE NOT ONLY AIMED AT DEALING WITH SUCH ACTIVITIES BUT WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT PROPER RECORDS ARE KEPT BY WHOLESALE DEALERS.

MR LI SAID A RECENT TREND IN HEAVY COURT FINES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE HAS BEEN VERY ENCOURAGING,

+IN JANUARY A WHOLESALE DEALER WAS GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 500 FOR FAILING TO KEEP PROPER RECORD OF PART ONE POISONS FOR FIRST OFFENCE AND SUBSEQUENT SIMILAR FINES ON THREE OTHER CHARGES,+ SAID MR LI.

+IN EFFECT, THE COMPANY WAS FINED A TOTAL OF $10 000, WHILE IN TWO OTHER CASES THE FINES IMPOSED WERE ALSO VERY HIGH,+ HE ADDED.

+AS A RESULT OF THE INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE COURT, THE MAGISTRATE HAD THE IMPRESSION THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN EVIDENCE OF ILLEGAL TRANSACTIONS OTHERWISE THE COMPANY INVOLVED WOULD HAVE KEPT PROPER RECORDS, HE SAID.

+THE HEAVY FINES IMPOSED BY THE MAGISTRATES SERVE AS AN INCENTIVE TO OUR INVESTIGATORS WHO HAVE BEEN WORKING VERY HARD OVER THE YEARS,+ MR LI SAID.

+A FEW MONTHS AGO THE FINES FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES WERE ONLY A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, AND HAD BEEN THAT WAY FOR A FEW YEARS, BUT NOW THE MAGISTRATES ARE TAKING A MORE SERIOUS VIEW ON ILLEGAL SALE OF CONTROLLED DRUGS, HE ADDED.

MR LI