Health ministry busts illegal clinics, pharmacies run by foreigners in KL

 An official says the four premises were operated by foreign nationals under the guise of selling textiles and running travel agencies.

The illegal clinics and pharmacies were uncovered by the Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya health department pharmacy enforcement unit during a raid in Lebuh Pudu, Kuala Lumpur today. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The health ministry has shut down four premises selling and storing unregistered medicines during a joint operation in Lebuh Pudu.

Two of the premises were also believed to be operating as illegal clinics, said Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya health department pharmacy enforcement branch head Shafilliza Samsuri, Bernama reported.

She said the premises were operated by foreign nationals under the guise of selling textiles and running travel agencies.

“These clinics target foreigners. They were also suspected to be operated by foreign doctors, although no individuals were inside during the raid.

“Preliminary investigations found that patients would be taken to a back room on the premises to undergo blood pressure and blood sugar checks before being given medicine,” she was quoted as saying.

Blood pressure and blood sugar testing equipment and medicines that had not received health ministry approval were seized during the raid.

Shafilliza said the medicines seized included antibiotics, high blood pressure medication, treatments for fungal infections, local anaesthetic injections and syringe sets.

She said most of the medicines were suspected to have been brought in from Bangladesh and were not registered in Malaysia.

She added that authorities will conduct further investigations to identify the tenants of the premises and individuals believed to be acting as doctors at the illegal clinics. - FMT