Kuwait’s Minister of Health, Dr. Ahmed Al-Awadhi, has ordered the closure and license revocation of 15 private pharmacies following serious violations of the country’s pharmacy laws. The decision came after inspection teams from the Ministry’s drug and food control committees uncovered technical and administrative breaches, including improper dispensing practices and unauthorized handling of pharmaceutical products. These actions contravene Law No. 28 of 1996 and its amendments, undermining drug security, professional standards, and consumer safety.
During field inspections, authorities identified violations related to the circulation of pharmaceutical preparations, failure to comply with occupational safety requirements, and practices that jeopardized patient health. The Minister directed coordination with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enforce final closure measures and refer violators to the Public Prosecution for legal action. This move aims to uphold regulatory authority and deter future infractions that could harm public health.
The ministerial decisions also mandate the removal of all unlicensed advertisements—whether written, audio, or visual—associated with the implicated pharmacies. The Ministry emphasized strict adherence to approved frameworks for promoting pharmaceutical products, reinforcing regulations that prevent misleading or illegal marketing of medicines.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to rigorous oversight of the pharmaceutical sector and warned that it will continue to apply the strictest measures against any entity compromising patient safety or misusing professional licenses. Protecting public health remains a national priority, and Kuwait is steadily strengthening its regulatory mechanisms to ensure medication quality, safety, and accessibility for all patients.
