AMMAN - The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) has closed down a total of 180 pharmacies after seizing counterfeit pharmaceuticals in addition to medications stolen from the Ministry of Health during the past two years, according to Al-Rai daily newspaper.

The JFDA General Manager Dr. Mohammad Al-Rawashdeh told Al-Rai that the total value of the confiscated medications reached up to JD17 million, and the violators have been referred to court.

According to the JFDA, the number of licensed pharmacies in the Kingdom totals 1800.

Al-Rawashdeh noted that the Public Health Law and in particular its articles concerning counterfeit and smuggled medications facilitated the process of red-handedly catching the violators, adding that the Administration has licensed 6500 brands of pharmaceuticals in the Kingdom.