2 weeks Ago By Andy Sabang
An MoH staff member briefs programme participants on the displayed specimen products. KAPIT (Nov 11): The Health Ministry (MoH) has issued a reminder for the public to be cautious in buying online health products. Deputy Director of Health (Pharmacy Services) Norhaliza Abdul Halim, in reiterating this, called upon the public to be vigilant as many health products available online may be unregistered, counterfeit, or contaminated with banned substances.
“Rapid advancement of technology now makes it easier for people to access information and health products online. “However, not all information available on the internet is accurate or reflects the true characteristics of these products,” she said, while reminding the public the health risks of such unregistered medicines or products containing scheduled poisons. Norhaliza said this in a speech for the ‘Gempuru TOBaTS Programme’ at Rumah Panjang Dennis Langok, Jalan Selirik here yesterday, read by Pharmacy Enforcement Division director Mohd Zawawi Abdullah who represented her at the launch.
According to her, the programme is held in conjunction with the Malaysia’s National Health Agenda, and as an extension to its previous ‘Choose registered medicines’, ‘Scan before you buy’, and ‘Beware of online drug sales’ campaigns. “MoH, through the pharmacy services programme and Pharmacy Enforcement Division, is actively implementing various measures to protect consumers from the risks of illegal products,” she said. These measures, she added, include enforcing laws, implementing a health product registration system, using the FarmaTag Hologram security label, and conducting public awareness campaigns.
Through these campaigns, the ministry hoped to increase consumer awareness and ensure that only legal medications are obtained from trusted sources. Meanwhile, on the Malaysia’s National Health Agenda, Norhaliza said the programme aimed to foster a healthy lifestyle culture and create an environment that supports the health and well-being of Malaysians. This agenda is planned for 10 years, from 2021 to 2030, and involves four main pillars namely promoting healthy lifestyles, providing health and wellness services, self-health control, and environmental cleanliness, she said.
In this regard, she called upon all Malaysians to support this initiative and help spread information about the importance of buying only registered medicines and practising healthy habits..
