The Star’s check of ecommerce platforms found that blood lancets and contact lenses, for instance, were being sold openly, with some sellers indicating that the items were not registered with the Health Ministry’s Medical Device Authority.Authorised drugs will have a registration number which starts with MAL, printed on the label or package, but The Star found mifepristone or abortion pills being sold on ecommerce platforms, and these were being shipped directly from countries such as Vietnam.
Based on the customers’ feedback segment, Mucolytics, which are drugs used for mucus thinning, clearing airways and treating chronic lung and breathing conditions, were also being sold - and in bulk. “There are a lot of medical devices that are unregistered,” she said. “But what is scary are the unregistered medicines. And these are often marketed as being useful for supplementary treatment.”
She also said the efficacy of such drugs could not be ascertained, adding that they could potentially come with a string of health hazards.“By right, we should not be buying medicines through these illicit sellers or vendors. It can actually have an impact on you. There can be side effects.