NewsWhore
02-18-2009, 02:20 PM
J-2 police and military officers, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Public Health raided the central city of Moca, closed more than 30 different "pharmacies" and seized counterfeit medicines as part of the Ministry's efforts to get illegal and counterfeit drugs off the counters, throughout the DR. Hoy explains that these small stores, most located on Dr. Alfonseca and Corazon de Jesus and 16 de Agosto streets, while not pharmacies, sell pharmaceutical products at cheaper prices. Many of the business owners recognize they are illegal. Hoy reports the confiscated drugs were taken to Santo Domingo in three trucks provided by the Custom Department. Listin Diario reports that officials seized 328 sacks of medications. More was not confiscated because some business owners were tipped off and removed their merchandise from the premises. Several city residents and business owners resisted the police breaking into their businesses. The Police resorted to using tear gas as a way to disperse crowds that gathered around the various pharmacies in protest. One of the bombs landed at a local Catholic school, and some of the children had to be hospitalized.
In defense of the businesses closed yesterday, Marcelino Trinidad, president of the Moca Pharmacy Association, said that many of the businesses closed have been around for more than 40 years and generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs. He explained in Diario Libre that in the center of Moca more than 200 "pharmacies" operate, employing more than 5,000. Yesterday, Supreme Court Judge Jorge Subero Isa asked judges to be more diligent in applying the law and asked police officials to be more drastic in their persecution of those who falsify medicines.
The Ministry's efforts come two weeks after two died after being injected with counterfeit anti-tetanus shots. The public outrage led the Ministry to step up its efforts to control the sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)
In defense of the businesses closed yesterday, Marcelino Trinidad, president of the Moca Pharmacy Association, said that many of the businesses closed have been around for more than 40 years and generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs. He explained in Diario Libre that in the center of Moca more than 200 "pharmacies" operate, employing more than 5,000. Yesterday, Supreme Court Judge Jorge Subero Isa asked judges to be more diligent in applying the law and asked police officials to be more drastic in their persecution of those who falsify medicines.
The Ministry's efforts come two weeks after two died after being injected with counterfeit anti-tetanus shots. The public outrage led the Ministry to step up its efforts to control the sale and distribution of counterfeit medicines.
More... (http://www.dr1.com/index.html#4)