The Bhutan Food and Drug Authority has suspended Yuthok Traditional Pharmacy in Thimphu for three months after inspectors found it repeatedly selling unregistered traditional medicines last month. According to the health ministry, the pharmacy was found selling unregistered traditional medicines during all four inspection rounds carried out by the authority. As these medicines were neither registered nor verified by the authority, their quality, safety, and efficacy could not be guaranteed.
Yuthok Traditional Pharmacy, established in 2000, now remains sealed. The pharmacy was suspended on the 28th of last month.
According to the health ministry, the authority inspected 24th of last month after the Department of Public Health found high lead levels in traditional medicines sold at the pharmacy during sampling and testing.
The health ministry further stated that, besides selling unregistered medicines, the owner of the pharmacy obstructed drug inspectors during official inspections. The owner also repeatedly failed to carry out his duties and responsibilities as a certified competent person. A certified competent person oversees the sale and distribution of medicinal products.
“About eighty containers of my medicines were seized. I was then fined Nu 43,000. I paid the fine, accepting it, but requested that the seized medicines be returned to me since I had purchased them for Nu 1.2 M and was expecting to earn about Nu 1.5 M from them. However, the medicines were not returned, and I was later informed that they had all been destroyed,” said Choedag Singye, Owner, Yuthok Traditional Pharmacy.
The health ministry also received public complaints about the pharmacy charging high prices for its traditional medicines. The owner said he was fined for overcharging on two medicines. He claimed that although he paid the fine, the medicines were not returned.
The pharmacy’s owner said that in May this year, the Bhutan Food and Drug Authority had embargoed 61 bottles of traditional medicinal products for failing to produce proper documentation. The authority had given him six months to register the embargoed products.
“I was informed that for registration, all tests for heavy metals, including lead, must be conducted. Testing for 80 medicinal products would cost around Nu 3 M. So far, I have completed testing for 48 medicinal products, which cost me about Nu 1 M. I submitted the results on 3rd November,” added Choedag Singye, Owner, Yuthok Traditional Pharmacy.
He added that despite being given six months until 21st November to register the embargoed medicinal products, the inspectors visited his pharmacy unexpectedly and suspended his business. He now plans to appeal to the authority.
According to the Medicines Act of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2003, all medicinal products manufactured, sold, distributed, imported, or exported from Bhutan must be registered with the Authority.
Bhutan Food and Drug Authority, under the Medicines Act 2003, oversees all places that make, sell, or distribute medicines, including traditional ones. If inspections find violations, the authority acts to ensure that only safe and effective medicines are available to the public in the country.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Sonam Pem
