Guidelines issued for sale of anti-malaria medication in Guangdong province

Residents in the Zhuhai special economic zone, Guangdong province, are required to register with their full names and relevant information when purchasing antipyretic and analgesic medicines in pharmacies, according to a notice issued by the local government on Tuesday.

The notice added that retail pharmacy operators and employees should help customers to purchase drugs rationally according to their needs. Customers should also be provided with detailed instructions on the correct usage and dosage of the medicines, as well as precautions to take.

If customers have been bitten by mosquitoes or have symptoms such as fever, joint pain or rash, pharmacy operators and employees should remind them to take protective measures such as the elimination of mosquitoes in their homes and seeking medical help in a timely fashion, according to the notice.  The personal data of those buying the medicine should be reported to relevant departments.

Each retail pharmacy should promote awareness on the prevention and control of Chikungunya fever through in-store posters, electronic screens and other means, while local residents are urged to further improve their awareness to cope with the mosquito-borne viral disease, the notice read.

Zhuhai, which borders the Macao Special Administrative Region, is the second city in Guangdong province to introduce the full name registration requirement for locals seeking to purchase antipyretic and analgesic medicines.

Foshan has also introduced the requirement for the purchase of such medicines, beginning last Friday.