The Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan is preparing amendments to the legislation on medicines provision. This was stated at the press conference following the meeting of the Government by the Head of the department Yelzhan Birtanov.

The pharmacy network records facts of illegal sale of medicines without a prescription, in addition, there is no proper control over the turnover of potent drugs. In this regard, the Ministry is preparing changes in the legislation, in particular, it is planned to give extended powers to the Committee of Pharmacy of the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

According to Y. Birtanov, because of restrictions on inspections of business entities scheduled and unscheduled inspections of pharmacies are rarely conducted. A key factor in ensuring transparency and control of drug safety is the transition to electronic prescriptions planned for January 1, 2018. On them patients will be able to independently check in online mode what medicines they have been prescribed, and to find out information about the presence of certain drugs in pharmacies.

Also, the Minister of Healthcare said that at the moment the agency is developing a new system of barcoding drugs to eliminate fakes.