Mapping medication selling practices at nonpharmacy outlets during the COVID-19 pandemic: an example of Indonesia.

The article focuses on medication selling practices at nonpharmacy outlets—specifically kiosks and minimarkets—in District X, Indonesia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The cross-sectional study found that while these outlets commonly stocked nonprescription drugs such as analgesics and common cold remedies, over 90% of kiosks and 15.4% of minimarkets also sold prescription medicines without proper licensing, which is illegal under Indonesian regulations. None of the staff at these outlets had pharmacy training, and no drug information was provided to customers during sales. The study highlights the need for licensing and regulatory enforcement to ensure medication quality and appropriate information provision, especially given recent legal changes permitting minimarkets to sell nonprescription drugs but not kiosks.