Six Pharmacies Caught Selling Prescription-Only Drugs Without Prescription... 200,000 Pills Including Erectile Dysfunction and Steroid Medications

Gyeongnam Provincial Special Judicial Police Joint Crackdown on Exceptions to Pharmaceutical Separation Areas

Steroid adrenal cortical hormones (left) and erectile dysfunction drugs illegally manufactured and sold. [Image source=Gyeongsangnam-do Special Judicial Police]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The special judicial police of Gyeongsangnam-do have uncovered six pharmacies illegally selling prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription.

According to the province, the special judicial police conducted an inspection from September 14 to 30 targeting pharmacies that received prescription drugs requiring a doctor's prescription among 18 pharmacies located in areas exempt from the separation of prescribing and dispensing within the province.

As a result of a joint inspection with the provincial Food and Drug Department and city/county pharmacist auditors, it was revealed that six pharmacies sold approximately 200,000 units of prescription drugs, including narcotics outside the narcotics control, drugs prone to abuse or misuse, and steroid injections, over the past two years.

Ampoules of illegally sold injectable drugs. [Image source=Gyeongsangnam-do Special Judicial Police]

According to the special judicial police, Pharmacy A was found to have dispensed and sold about 87,600 units without a doctor's prescription, including 17,000 units of drugs prone to abuse such as erectile dysfunction treatments and diuretics, 70,000 units of steroid drugs, and 600 units of narcotics outside the narcotics control.

Pharmacy B dispensed and sold approximately 64,400 units without a prescription, including 1,400 units of drugs prone to abuse and 63,000 units of steroid drugs.

The provincial special judicial police have filed criminal charges against the six pharmacies for violating the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act by selling drugs prone to abuse without prescriptions and plan to request administrative action from the relevant city and county authorities.

They are also aware that 110,000 injectable drugs, including intravenous fluids, were sold at some pharmacies and plan to expand investigations into whether these injections were used in illegal medical practices.

The province explained, "Pharmacies established in areas exempt from the separation of prescribing and dispensing may dispense and sell prescription drugs without a doctor's or dentist's prescription; however, psychotropic drugs, narcotics outside the narcotics control, drugs prone to abuse or misuse, and steroid preparations are exceptions."

A special judicial police official stated, "Most of the pharmacies caught claimed reasons such as having no alternative drugs with similar effects, being effective for COVID-19 treatment and aftereffects, or that regular customers insisted, so they had no choice," adding, "It is wrong to illegally dispense and sell drugs knowing that a prescription is required."

Kim Eun-nam, head of the provincial Social Disaster Division, emphasized, "The drugs dispensed and sold by the pharmacies caught this time are drugs prone to abuse or misuse or those designated for safe use. Using them without a doctor's diagnosis and prescription may not cause immediate problems but could pose safety issues in the long term."

He continued, "There is concern that as regulations tighten due to the reckless dispensing and selling of prescription drugs by some pharmacies in exempt areas, innocent pharmacies and local residents may face inconvenience," and said, "We will continue to conduct crackdowns and investigations into illegal drug distribution and illegal medical practices to improve the health and welfare of residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.