DILI, 02 April 2025 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health, through the Inspection, Monitoring, and Audit Office, conducted a nationwide crackdown targeting unlicensed pharmacies across Timor-Leste.
The Health Inspector, Horácio Fernandes, said that 10 unlicensed pharmacies were fined between US$100 and US$1,500 for operating illegally in the country. As a result, the Inspection, Monitoring, and Audit Office has collected a total of US$5,000 in fines from these pharmacies.
“We inspected several pharmacies and found that ten of them were selling medicines and medical supplies without government authorization,” Fernandes told Tatoli.
These ten pharmacies are not only in Dili but also in other municipalities, including Baucau, Covalima, Lautém, Liquiçá, and Manatuto.
The crackdown on unauthorized pharmacies is part of the MoH’s significant effort to protect public health, eliminate malpractice in the pharmaceutical sector, and ensure that Timorese citizens receive only safe and high-quality medications.
Fernandes said that more than 500 types of medicines had been seized, adding that Health Minister Elia dos Reis Amaral had therefore ordered the authorities to destroy these medicines.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
