Pharmacy Board: Don’t buy medicines via WhatsApp, Tiktok

The Pharmacy Board of the Ministry of Health has sounded the alarm on the sale of pharmaceutical products on social networks such as WhatsApp and TikTok.

It added that many retail pharmacies are providing delivery services after requesting customers to order on WhatsApp.

In a statement issued on Tuesday 7 March, the Pharmacy Board affirmed that section 17 (2) of the Pharmacy Act 1983 prohibits the sale of medicines outside pharmacies.

As per section 41 of the same act “No person shall advertise any pharmaceutical product intended for human or veterinary use except in such technical or professional publications, as may be approved by the Board”.

The Pharmacy Board pointed out that online platforms are not regulated by the Pharmacy Act.

The public is hereby being advised to refrain from buying pharmaceutical products from such online platforms.

Source: GIS Mauritius