Azogues Pharmacy Chain Temporarily Closed After Arcsa Finds Questionable Medicines

A pharmacy chain in Azogues, Cañar was temporarily closed after an inspection by the Agency for Regulation, Control and Sanitary Surveillance (Arcsa) found medicines reported as stolen, expired products, and items without sanitary registration.

The operation seized condoms reported as stolen and another 900 tablets. Inspectors also found 104 expired medicines and 65 products without sanitary registration, including tetanus vaccines and cannabis patches.

Why the inspection happened

The case began after the manufacturer reported that a container of its merchandise had been stolen in 2024. Representatives of the pharmacy said they did not know where the products came from.

Arcsa's zonal coordinator, Eufrasia Fajardo, said the representatives did not provide documentation that would allow inspectors to continue tracing which distributor sold the products. The agency said the products would be destroyed and the pharmacy was temporarily closed.

Inspectors also reported that the pharmacies were carrying out invasive treatments such as injections. The warehouse was operating without the necessary conditions for storing medicines.

What residents can take from it

This report does not identify the chain by name or state how long the temporary closure will last. It does provide a useful reminder for anyone buying medication in the region: check packaging, registration information, expiration dates, and whether the seller can explain the product's distribution chain.

That matters particularly for products that require careful storage or professional administration. A low price is not a substitute for traceability.

Arcsa asks residents to report the sale of stolen or adulterated products through the Arcsa Móvil application. If something about a medicine looks wrong, keep the packaging and document the product before reporting it.

Source: Ecuavisa