PUTRAJAYA: Legal action will be taken against pharmacies found selling sex stimulant pills over the counter without prescription.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said these pills must only be bought and taken with doctors' prescription.
"Pharmacies found selling these pills will be fined and charged in court in accordance with the Pharmacy Act," he said during a 'buka puasa' event with Health Ministry staff, as well as orphaned and handicapped children.
A Malay daily had today reported that these pills can be easily bought from pharmacies without having to show any prescription from doctors.
It said that the pills include Viagra and Cialis.
The report also said consumption of such pills without any prescription could lead to a sudden heart attack if taken without doctors' advice.
Dr Subramaniam, acknowledging that these pills were sold by many pharmacies without prescription, said constant monitoring and enforcement has been conducted from time to time to control the issue.
"These medicines must first be registered under the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau and obtained through prescription," he said, adding that there were also pharmacies selling herbal-based sex stimulant pills whose contents were unknown.
Dr Subramaniam also warned against the consumption of counterfeit medicines from foreign countries which could lead to various health hazards.
"The permitted dosage level is usually between 50 to 100 miligram but some of them were found to contain more than 200 miligram per dosage," he added.
He also advised people to be careful of the contents and the consumption of the pills.