Ninety pharmacies in Riyadh have been fined more than SAR1.2m (US$320k) for violations including employing unlicensed staff and selling expired medicines.
Pharmacies in the Saudi capital were also penalised for improper storage of medicines following random visits by inspectors.
“The field teams also found and reported violations in addition to them verifying complaints of citizens and expatriates,” said Dr Adnan Sulaiman Al-Abdulkarim, director of Riyadh Health Affairs. “The penalties were decided based on the regulations of health institutions.”
Dr Al-Abdulkarim said he hoped there would be more compliance in the sector and that healthcare firms would stop employing unlicenced professionals.
He added: “Surprise visits by field teams will continue to be carried out all over the Riyadh region and strict penalties will be imposed on violators.”
Dr Al-Abdulkarim encouraged citizens to report violations and poor services at public hospitals.
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