The government presently has no legal basis to prohibit the sale of medicines by kiosk owners.
Health Ministry Hospital Support and Transfers Services national director Horacio Sarmento da Costa said kiosk owners often sold antibiotics despite having no medical knowledge.
He said a discussion was already taking place to regulate the sale of medicines.
He said consultation with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and the Environment was also taking place.
Commission F (health, education, culture, veterans’ affairs and gender equality) president Virgilio da Costa Hornai said the Ministry of Health should have control of the distribution of medicine.
“Those who are selling these medicines have no knowledge of antibiotics or the correct dosage and this could impact on people’s health,” he said.
He called for action by the Health Ministry.
Resident Gaspar da Silva supported the push for government regulation on the sale of medicines.
“I see some small stands in the neighborhoods sell antibiotics and even worse, it is sold by children. They don’t know about dosages, they just sell it,” he said.
He said the medicines needed to be kept cool, which often wasn’t done by kiosk owners.
