Riviera Maya, Q.R. — The Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) has suspended 23 pharmacies in Quintana Roo. The pharmacies were suspended from doing business after they were found selling controlled medications irregularly and in some instances, without licenses or documentation.
In a statement, the Comisión para la Protección contra Riesgos Sanitarios (Cofepris) reported that Operation Albatros was carried out in 55 pharmacies in three municipalities after numerous consumer complaints.
Cofepris inspectors visited pharmacies in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum where the consumer complaints originated. The inspections were carried out over a four-day period which resulted in 23 business suspensions and the seizure of 21 boxes of drugs.
Cofepris also took samples of drugs that will be analyzed to evaluate possible counterfeiting, adulteration and the possible presence of fentanyl.
In their statement, Cofepris reported in Playa del Carmen, the business suspensions of PDC Pharmacy, PDC Pharmacy 10.2. In Tulum, Drugstore Pharmacy, Farmacia Tulum Centro III, Farmacia Tulum Coba, Farmacia Tulum Europea were shut.
In Cancun, Cofepris suspended Cancun Cristal Pharmacy, Cancun Tortugas Pharmacy, Cancun Forum Pharmacy, Cancun Coba Pharmacy, Simas Pharmacy and Pharmacy Drugstore from doing business.
The pharmacies were shut down after inspectors found a lack of sanitary licenses, controlled drugs without proof of legitimate possession and no traceability in the management of controlled medications.
Some were also found to lack legal documentation from suppliers, control books without the signature of a health officer, medical prescriptions without patient data and/or dates, prescriptions without the doctor’s signatures, sale of medicines without sanitary registration, non-prescription sales receipts and stocked medication with an expiry of over a year.
Cofepris inspectors also identified that many times, the establishments sold the irregular and non-prescription medication only to foreigners.
In addition, they found the existence of advertising that provided the location and phone numbers of pharmacies where prohibited and / or prescription medication can be requested at home without a prescription.
The Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks suspended the operations of 23 pharmacies and points of sale throughout the state where the irregular sale of controlled medicines had been detected.