The Ministry of Health reminded and urged all pharmacists to participate in the elimination of counterfeit medicines harmful to people’s health and society at large, to improve the sector in Cambodia.
The call to action was made during a programme aimed at educating pharmacists in Phnom Penh, organised by the Board of the Capital-Provincial Pharmacists’ Council (BCPPC) on February 4. The effort focused on disseminating the professional boundaries druggists must adhere to.
Addressing the media, the council’s second vice-president Va Sokea highlighted the initiative’s objective to reinforce the professional boundaries of pharmacists in the medical field, as outlined in the Handbook of Standards for Pharmacy Professional and Pharmacist Professional Limitations.
He reminded apothecaries of the legal consequences of professional misconduct and urged them to join the fight against harmful drugs.
“We must unite to eliminate counterfeit or substandard drugs and nerve agents that negatively impact the well-being of some of our youth. It’s crucial to prevent and eradicate these substances,” he stated.
Ngy Mean Heng, director of the Phnom Penh municipal health department, acknowledged the “commendable” work of pharmacies in the capital but also highlighted the need for capacity building.
“With 1,540 licensed pharmacies in Phnom Penh, there’s a need to address their shortcomings and enhance their performance,” he said.
Nuth Sambath, president of the Institute of Medicine, Biology and Agriculture at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, expressed his support for the collective effort.
“Eliminating counterfeit drugs is imperative for the welfare of our society and the safety of our people,” he said.
In addition to urging pharmacists to join in eliminating hazardous medication, the ministry also called for health professionals to uphold dignity, honesty and commitment in their pharmaceutical roles.