The Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA) has warned the public against the sale of 21 medicines being distributed in the Maldives without regulatory approval.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the authority said medicines can only be imported into the Maldives through entities registered as pharmaceutical importers under national drug regulations. The MFDA stated that imported medicines must also be registered under approved drug registration procedures and included in the country’s approved medicines list.

According to the authority, a number of medicines are currently being imported and sold by individuals and businesses not authorised to import pharmaceutical products. The products are reportedly being sold through online platforms and retail shops.

The MFDA stated that the safety, ingredients and quality of the medicines being sold without approval cannot be verified under existing regulatory procedures. The authority warned that the use of unregistered medicines could expose consumers to serious and unexpected health risks.

Authorities have published a list containing the 21 medicines identified so far and stated that enforcement action would be taken against individuals or businesses found importing, selling or advertising medicines without authorisation.

The authority has also requested members of the public to report such cases through the MFDA hotline at 7200321