Could Convenience Stores Sell Medicines? FDA Reaffirmed That Safety Is The Priority!

Date of Pharmacist Weekly: 101.0416-0422
No.: 1765
Article Writer: Pharmacist weekly
Source: http://www.taiwan-pharma.org.tw/weekly/1765/1765-1-2.htm
Reference: n/a
Translator: Liu TingYi
Date of Translation: 042312
Title:
Could Convenience Stores Sell Medicines? FDA Reaffirmed That Safety Is The Priority!
Subtitle: n/a
Content:
In regard to “the report on selling medicines at convenience stores”, Pharmacists are concerned about what’s FDA position on it. FDA reaffirmed that the management of medicines will not regard the convenience to the public as the main consideration, but based on the drug use safety as the supreme principle.
On Apr. 5, FDA had sent the letter to emphasize the usage of medicine is different from the general merchandize, and the one must have the pharmacy expertise that could check the drug safety for the public. FDA insistent on upholding drug safety and quality, and considers the drug use safety is the supreme principle.
In related news about “the report on selling medicines at convenience stores”, FDA indicated that Taiwan Coalition of Service Industries (TWCSI) held the symposium and press conference of “multi-pathway service will take into account the supporting measures of the public health care, and check for people” on Mar. 21, and published their investigation results for the execution of “What the self-treatment do Taiwanese know”. FDA representative also participated in that symposium and conveyed the management of medicines was not regarded to “the convenience” for the public as the main consideration, but based on “the drug use safety” as the supreme principle.
FDA emphasized that in accordance with the risk level of drug use safety to classify and manage medicines is their ongoing work. The committee of experts which established by FDA will based on the drug safety, the trend of international management and the habits of medicine take for Taiwanese to examine, and by the procedure of administrative notice to let the consumer and Pharmaceutical societyexpress their views, then implement.