‘Don’t buy cheap pharmaceuticals from the north’

THE Medical Services have warned the public to be wary of the quality and origin of medicine sold in the north following claims by DIKO deputy Marios Matsakis that Greek Cypriots were purchasing pharmaceutical products from the occupied areas because they were cheaper.

The Medical Services warned that the illegal trafficking of products was a serious business in the north, which meant that quality standards were not followed.
In a statement to Phileleftheros, the Medical Services said the quality of medication sold in the north and their origin was questionable.

The price of medicine in the free areas has fallen since last May and reports said a study by experts at the London School of Economics was expected to be completed soon on how to implement a new policy for the harmonisation of medicine prices with those of the European Union.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail yesterday, Matsakis said buying medication not approved or recognised could be very dangerous.

“I have heard from people going over that there are a lot of Greek Cypriots who buy their medicine there,” he said.

“If medication purchased there meets international standards then that’s no problem, but you never know and there is also the issue of Greek Cypriots spending their money in the north,” he added.