Pharmacist Accused of Stealing Medicines from Government Hospital
JEDDAH The Health Affairs is investigating a female Arab pharmacist accused of stealing expensive medicines from the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Jeddah's Al-Mosaidiyah area.
She is also accused of selling the medicines to private hospitals.
The female pharmacist has reportedly requested the hospital administration not to renew her contract that ends on April 29.
Director General of Jeddah Health Affairs Dr. Sami Badawood said she returned to the Kingdom a few days ago after a scheduled vacation back home. She has been placed under suspension pending further investigations.
Badawood said this was not a criminal investigation and nothing has been proven against her yet.
He said an investigation report indicated that several controlled medicines were found in her possession. She was asked to explain this and she replied that she has prescriptions for the medicines.
Badawood said if it were proved that she was holding forged prescriptions for the medication, the case would be referred to prosecution authorities.
The pharmacist has prescriptions for some medicines, but she has failed so far to present valid prescriptions for the rest of the medication, he said.
Badawood expected the investigation results to be revealed on Saturday.
Following the outcome of the investigation, it will be decided whether to allow her to continue working or not. The woman was implicated on Nov. 14 after the deputy chief pharmacist noticed her acting suspiciously. She was found placing several packs of medicines in her handbag.
The chief pharmacist, who was notified immediately, referred the matter to an assistant director at the hospital. A team formed to investigate the matter found several packets of medicines in the pharmacist's handbag.
The team also found several other packets of medicines that the pharmacist is suspected of hiding at other places in the hospital.
Some of the medicines are issued only under prescription, while others can be given to hospitalized patients only under medical supervision or in operation theaters.
According to the report, at least 15 boxes of medicines were seized from the pharmacist.
Abdulmuhsin Al-Sabti - Saudi Gazette
