Draft law on pharmacies

Three Saudi female legal consultants have contributed to the new draft law for pharmacies presented by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA).

Saleh Al-Atawi, executive director for legal affairs, said this is the first time that women participated in drafting a law.

The new draft law suggests a 1000-meter distance from each direction between two pharmacies. Each company will be allowed to own only 30 pharmacies. Individual pharmacists can own only five pharmacies.

The new draft law will also curtail the online sale of medicines and curb unauthorized selling of medical and herbal products.

Licenses given to every medical or herbal product are valid for five years with the option of renewal. The same applies to pharmaceutical factories.

The technical director of the factory has to be a full time Saudi authorized pharmacist.

The SFDA will conduct regular inspections. It will also review the prices of medicines every five years.

The SFDA will destroy any illegal products and specify punishments accordingly. This includes imprisonment for no more than 10 years, fine up to SR10 million, deportation if the person is non-Saudi, license revocation and prevention of the individual from working in the pharmaceutical industry.