UNMIK/PR/631
Pristina – The Department of Health and Public Services and the Kosovo Drug Regulatory Authority announce the closing of 55 illegal pharmacies in the Pristina and Gjilane regions.
According to Regulation 2000/52 of September2, 2000 signed by Bernard Kouchner, pharmacies operating in Kosovo must comply with certain standards, the first being that they are fully licensed to operate in Kosovo.
In January 1, 2001, pharmacies throughout Kosovo were given notice that they had seven days to apply for an operating license if they did not already have one.
“These pharmacies were in the end given seven months to apply for licenses to operate legally,” said Adnin Bozalija, Director of the Kosovo Drug Regulatory Agency. “In August, with the cooperation of the UNMIK Police, we were forced to close pharmacies that hadn’t complied with the regulation. All pharmacies operating in Kosovo must be licensed.”
“This regulation was passed for the safety of the people of Kosovo,” he added. “Many of these pharmacies had no professional staff and were dispensing medication without the proper knowledge and authority.”
Up until now, all of the pharmacies closed were privately operated and only in the Gjilane and Pristina region. In the coming months, the Kosovo Drug Regulatory Authority will inspect the 52 public sector pharmacies in Kosovo as well as pharmacies in the remaining regions.
“With approximately 280 pharmacies still operating in Kosovo, there is no shortage of places to obtain medication,” said Bozalija.