Nurse caught in unlawful possession of unlicensed prescription meds fined

A registered nurse caught advertising and in unlawful possession of prescription injectable medicines associated with cosmetic treatments has been fined.

Nafeyka Chavdarova was fined £720 at Craigavon Magistrates Court in Northern Ireland last month after pleading guilty to nine charges relating to the unlawful possession of unlicensed prescription-only medicines intended for sale or supply.

The 44-year-old was also caught unlawfully advertising prescription medications.

Related Article: Lyme disease: what nurses need to know

In March 2024, the Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG) visited the nurse’s home at Clendenning Avenue, Portadown, which was operating as an aesthetics clinic.

They seized prescription medication including Botulinum toxin type A, Hydroxocobalamin, Hyaluronidase and Lidocaine. These are associated with beauty treatments such as smoothing facial wrinkles or having fillers injected into the lips.

Peter Moore, senior medicines enforcement officer with the Department of Health, said: ‘This conviction sends a clear message that there are consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and controls which are in place to ensure public safety and integrity of the medicines supply chain.

‘I would urge people to consider the implications of buying drugs online or from dubious sources – there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health.’

Aaron McKendry, interim head of MRG, stressed it was ‘extremely important that people take prescription only medicines after consultation’ with a health professional who ‘has access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine’.

Related Article: Specialist children’s nursing workforce ‘under intense pressure’

‘The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to stop the illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines and when appropriate, to alerting the public about the dangers of using medicines outside of the regulated supply chain.’

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said it cannot comment on the case but on the regulator’s register, it confirms the nurse is still registered and has no restrictions on her practice.

The regulator recently highlighted guidance reminding nurses that prescription-only medicines and treatments, including Botox, must not be advertised to the public and that doing so could result in suspension or a revoked licence to practice.

Related Article: Over one million switched to combined asthma inhalers since NICE update

The NMC directed nurses and midwives to a new advice sheet from the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP), which provides information on the rules and laws and the possible consequences of breaching them.

The advice sheet reminds nurses and other healthcare professionals that advertising POMs ‘is a breach of not only the CAP Code, but also the law’.