10.11.2026 18:12
In the Alanya, Manavgat, and Kemer districts of Antalya, businesses presenting themselves as pharmacies with "drugstore" and "pharma center" signs were found to be selling prescription products such as antibiotics, blood pressure and diabetes medications under the guise of food supplements, as well as unauthorized medical devices. Of the 11 businesses inspected, 8 were fined 500,000 lira each, totaling 4 million TL. It was stated that the medications were hidden under pouf seats and in hidden compartments and were mainly sold to tourists.
In Antalya's touristic districts, 8 of 11 businesses determined to be trading prescription drugs and unauthorized medical devices under the guise of selling food supplements and vitamins were fined an administrative penalty of 4 million TL. It was noted that the process regarding the other businesses is ongoing.
The Antalya Chamber of Pharmacists filed 10 separate criminal complaints regarding some businesses in the Alanya, Manavgat and Kemer districts that, despite not having pharmacy status, operate with a food supplement license or without a license and sell certain prescription and controlled drugs such as painkillers, antibiotics, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes medications, etc. Following the criminal complaints and reports, 34 inspections were carried out at a total of 11 businesses in 3 districts. During the inspections, 8 businesses were fined a total of 4 million TL, 500,000 TL each, while it was noted that the process regarding the other businesses continues. It was stated that, as a result of the inspections, the businesses found guilty will be subject to administrative fines ranging from 500,000 lira to 5 million lira.
DRUGS WERE HIDDEN UNDER POUF SEATS
Mustafa Çelebi, President of the Antalya Chamber of Pharmacists, said that drugs taken from hidden stocks were sold to customers at prices far above their normal price. Stating that these businesses employ foreign-language-speaking staff, Mustafa Çelebi noted that tourists are mainly targeted. It was stated that the products and drugs in question were hidden under pouf seats, inside collagen boxes, and in secret compartments behind the counter. Çelebi stated that because Turkish citizens can compare prices on the internet and keep their distance from such businesses, illegal sales are mostly carried out through tourists.
President Çelebi stated that during inspections, medical devices such as nebulizers, thermometers, non-contact thermometers and blood pressure monitors, which must be registered in the Product Tracking System (ÜTS) and are prohibited from being kept in unauthorized and unlicensed businesses, were also offered for sale illegally. Çelebi noted that, according to the relevant ministry regulations, fines for the unauthorized sale of medical devices range from 500,000 TL to 5 million TL, and that, in accordance with Article 187 of the Turkish Criminal Code regarding the sale of unauthorized and illegal prescription drugs, legal action has been taken against these persons with a request for imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
Stating that a special commission was also established within the Antalya Governor's Office regarding the problem, Mustafa Çelebi said that drugs and medical products obtained by prescription from pharmacies are marketed to tourists without a prescription through these pharmacy-like businesses, away from inspections. President Çelebi, arguing that antibiotics and controlled prescription drugs obtained from pharmacies with an SGK prescription are put back into circulation, stated that there is also damage to the institution. President Mustafa Çelebi, noting that public health is seriously threatened, called on citizens to buy their medicines only from pharmacies.
PHARMACY IMAGE THROUGH SIGNS AND WHITE COATS
Mustafa Çelebi stated that they have faced this problem increasingly for the last two years and that they have taken all necessary steps. President Çelebi said, “In tourism regions, we see businesses emerging that use expressions and signs such as 'drugstore' and 'pharma center,' using green plus signs to make themselves look like pharmacies, but are not pharmacies and have no authority whatsoever to sell medicines. We have documented many times that these businesses sell medicines under the name of selling vitamins and have filed criminal complaints about them. There have been positive developments recently. Measures regarding these businesses have begun to be taken on the administrative side. I can say that a serious inspection mechanism has been established in Antalya. However, we still see some abuses and we continue to fight them.”
Çelebi, stating that it is their duty to care about the health of foreign tourists coming to the city as well as public health, said, “We see that, beyond misleading statements that deceive tourists, deception and misleading are carried out by wearing white coats inside the business and writing on the coat pockets to give the impression that a doctor or pharmacist works there, as well as by giving the image on signs that this place is a pharmacy and health center. A governor's office commission was established regarding these places. Following this commission, upon the initiatives of the Turkish Pharmacists' Association and our chamber and the complaints made with the evidence and documents we collected, the issue was carefully taken onto the agenda by the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TİTCK) and an evaluation was made. Immediately after this, comprehensive inspections were carried out and an investigation report was published. Within the scope of the report, it was clearly determined that these businesses are a significant public health problem. The need to monitor these places carefully and to fight their illegal activities better; the measures to be taken to immediately remove misleading statements, signs and markings, and the judicial and administrative sanctions to be applied were reported to all relevant administrative stakeholders and provincial health directorates. I hope that with regulatory amendments to be made in a short time, there will be more inspections; we foresee that these businesses will no longer be able to be so bold as to sell medicines so freely and shamelessly.”
CONTROLLED DRUGS WERE ALSO SEIZED
President Çelebi, stating that controlled drugs were also among those sold, said, “Especially in some raids, as we have documented and shared in criminal complaints, we see that some drugs we call 'controlled' have been seized at these places. Very sadly, we see that these drugs, obtained by prescription from pharmacies and then brought to these places, are being tried to be delivered to citizens and foreign tourists without a prescription—and, beyond a prescription, in an unauthorized manner. Are these places a health business or a food business? If they sell food supplements, their legislation is clear. Food supplements are being sold, but we see that these businesses are opened without obtaining a license from the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture. If we are to call them a health business, then they must be under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. We will never allow pharmacy activity to be carried out in these businesses opened by taking advantage of the inspection gap. We already know that these places are not a health business; we also know that the people selling here or operating these places have no competence whatsoever.”