TA pharmacy’s preparations may be dangerous

Health Ministry warns against public use of medications from Tel Aviv's Netzah Yisrael pharmacy; ready-made products are deemed safe.

By JUDY SIEGEL-ITZKOVICH
Pharmacist pouring something 311 (photo credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)
Pharmacist pouring something 311
(photo credit: NATI SHOHAT/FLASH90)
The Health Ministry warned the public on Sunday not to use medications or other preparations prepared since January 1 in Tel Aviv’s Netzah Yisrael private pharmacy.
The products prepared there are suspected of being low quality and having not been prepared properly, as the raw materials were not registered as required and no expiry dates were given, the ministry explained.
Although the bulk of drugs and preparations are sold by most pharmacies ready-made, a minority is prepared by the pharmacists.
But in the Netzah Yisrael pharmacy at Rehov Netzah Yisrael 11 near Sderot Chen, the owner and/or some of his four or five salaried pharmacists prepared a large number of preparations themselves, the ministry’s Tel Aviv district pharmacist, Dalia Cohen, told The Jerusalem Post. “We in the pharmaceutical division were all surprised.”
Any products made by pharmacists at Netzah Yisrael should be taken or sent to any of the district pharmacists in the ministry’s district health offices. From there, they will be collected and destroyed.
Irregularities were found during a routine examination of the shop, which has many clients, Cohen said. “We check pharmacies around the country.”
The last time it was checked, no irregularities were found, the district pharmacist said. She herself once bought a product there, but did not notice anything untoward.
Among the products made up by pharmacist owner Morris Abuhi or his salaried pharmacists – the ministry doesn’t yet know for sure – were capsules, syrups, creams, injections and salves.
The district pharmacist decided to issue the public warning before completing the investigation, and did not know where it would lead, including the possibility of calling in the police. The products could cause harm to health if used, Cohen said.
The pharmacy has operated under Abuhi for 15 or 20 years, said Cohen. Starting on Wednesday, Abuhi will have to name another professional pharmacist to be in charge of the shop, with management changed at least until the ministry reaches its conclusions.
Abuhi may continue to work there for the time being, she added, and he can defend himself in hearings.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the ministry will make its findings public, Cohen said.