Riobamba medical center closed over 2,502 irregular medicines

A private medical center in Riobamba, Chimborazo, has been temporarily closed following a joint inspection by health authorities. During the operation, officials from the National Agency for Regulation, Control and Sanitary Surveillance (Arcsa), the Agency for Quality Assurance of Health Services and Prepaid Medicine (Acess), and the National Police discovered 2,502 irregular pharmaceutical products.

The seized items included medicines lacking sanitary registration, expired drugs, and medical samples whose sale is prohibited by law. Authorities also found that the facility was directly selling pharmaceuticals to the public despite lacking the necessary sanitary permits required for a point of sale, a function reserved for authorized pharmacies or drugstores.

Health officials warned that these irregularities pose a serious threat to patient safety, as uncertified and expired medications lack guarantees regarding quality, efficacy, and therapeutic security.