The Ministry of Health has taken measures to stop the overuse of aphrodisiac medicines by carrying out raids on places where such medicines are stored excessively or sold without prescription, Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne told Parliament yesterday. He said so, in response to a question raised by UNP Matara District MP Buddhika Pathirana who queried about the increase in sex crimes in Sri Lanka due to the unregulated use of aphrodisiacs which can be easily and freely purchased in the market.
He said the medicines are registered under the National Medicines Regulatory Authority and can be sold retail only on a prescription of a registered medical officer.
Raids are also carried on places where such drugs are sold stored without a license or without a prescription. In 2014 and 2015, 23 people were charged in courts over these offences and penalized, the Minister said.
In some instances it was found pharmacies were storing such drugs in excessive quantities when their invoices were checked. These people were advised and asked to take corrective action.
Minister Senaratne said pharmacy owners and their assistants were frequently were educated on the dangers of selling such medicines over the counter. The Minister said no studies have been carried to verify the efficacy of these drugs.