On Monday, Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chairman R Sri Sanjeevan tweeted an advertisement for Sildenafil which is sold as Viagra and called on the Health Ministry to take appropriate action.
In a few hours, FMT had already contacted the number on the advertisement and arranged to buy the pills, which were being sold at RM50 each and RM2,100 per bottle of 60.
Through a series of text messages, the seller told FMT that the pills were original and brought in from the United Kingdom.
The seller also knew the product well, giving FMT a detailed explanation on how it should be taken, the effects of the drugs, differences between Viagra and generic brands and the cheaper price compared to Viagra purchased at pharmacies which also required a doctor’s prescription.
The seller explained that the pills could be shipped nationwide and also accepted cash on delivery payments for orders in the Klang Valley.
A quick check online revealed that the seller had posted advertisements on a couple of other websites for the drug.
Within the next couple of days, FMT met with the seller, a local man, in public to pay for the pills and collect them.
Meanwhile, an experienced doctor who spoke on condition of anonymity to FMT said that the illegal sale of prescription drugs had been going on for many years.
The doctor, a general practitioner said that even more worrying, was that a few well known pharmacies were selling prescription drugs and delivering them to customers’ doorsteps without proof of a doctor’s prescription.
In the case of Viagra, the doctor said the pills were risky for people with heart-disease, more so if they were taking other medication for heart-disease at the same time.
“If you have heart-disease and you take Viagra, it can lower your blood pressure to dangerous levels or trigger cardiac arrest, more so if you are taking other heart medications.
“The authorities should act against those who are selling prescription drugs illegally, it is not difficult,” said the doctor, adding that Health Ministry enforcement officers could pose as buyers and stop the sellers in their tracks.