New restrictions on pharmaceutical medicines

Illegal abuse of pharmaceutical medicines has led to a major change in the health industry.

From January 24, new medicine restrictions will come into effect and certain over-the-counter drugs will only be sold with prescriptions.

The Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs released an updated list of restricted medicines, which are only available with a prescription.

Muscle relaxants and epileptic medicine are some of the drugs that were named on an updated list of restricted medicines. Narcotics, psychotropic substances, precursors and some psychoactive substances were already named as restricted substances.

Pharmaceutical drug abuse and inappropriate uses of medicines in non-therapy dozes was the reason behind the law change, the Ministry said.

"These illegal actions represent a serious threat to public health, the Ministry said today.

The newly restricted drugs are already moderately controlled (classified in Group II) but will be reclassified into a group under strict control (Group I).

The changes will come into effect on January 24, 2014.