By Sandun A. Jayasekera

The National Cosmetics Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (NCDDRA) yesterday filed charges against 18 pharmacies and one beauty parlour in Colombo alone for violating the NCDDRA Act following the raids conducted this week, a Ministry spokesman said.

The raids were ordered by Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena as there was a sharp increase of complaints the Ministry received in the last few weeks against pharmacies, spokesman W.M.D. Wanninayaka said.

“Complaints were mainly on the substandard drugs, selling drugs without a prescription, non-registration of pharmacies, employing unqualified persons as dispensers and pharmacists, storage of drugs with foods and keeping drugs without recommended temperature and selling non-registered drugs etc,” Mr. Wanninayaka said.

He said a beauty parlour was charged for using non registered cosmetics for beauty therapy risking the health of their clients.

The raids on pharmacies and beauty parlours were conducted by a team headed by NCDDRA head Dr. Hemantha Benragama.

The raids will be continued island wide in the next few days and strict action will be taken on violators of the NCDDRA Act as the illegal pharmacies and illegal medicinal drug trade have put the lives of the public at great risk, Mr. Wanninayaka added.

Pharmacies are required to get registration from the NCDDRA annually, he said.