Madang Shop owner charged 15 thousand kina for the illegal sales of medical drugs

A local shop in Madang town was closed early this week by the Madang Urban Local Level Government for failing to comply with the Trading License Act, the Food Sanitation Act and the Food Sanitation Regulation.

This comes as a joint task force comprising officers from the National department of Health, Customs, Investment Promotion Authority, Police, Madang Provincial Health Authority and the Madang Urban Local Level Government, conducted an operation following reports of the illegal sale of medical drugs in the province.

The shop owner whose identity has been withheld was also charged by the National Department of Health under the Pharmaceutical Act of PNG for illegally selling medical drugs to the public.

The operation discovered the said shop is known for its illegal sales of medical drugs in Madang town.

Information released by the team also revealed the shop owner has defied a number of warnings issued by the town authority for him to abide by the respective acts and regulations.

Dum Iwa, head of the joint task force team says, the owner of the shop has been fined up to 15 thousand kina for breaching various laws and regulations.

He was charged 5 thousand kina for operating a pharmacy without a license from the Pharmaceutical Board of PNG, another 5 thousand kina for dispensing prescription- only medicines, and a further 5 thousand kina for two shop assistants who have been acting as pharmacists. 

The shop meanwhile was allowed to reopen Thursday afternoon after adhering with the orders from the town authority and the National Department of Health.