|
The medicines we take for day-to-day ailments and life-threatening conditions should make us feel better or save our lives. But because of the presence of counterfeit medicines in the country today, we should be cautious as to the medicines we buy.
This was the warning issued by the Department of Health (DOH), which noted that about ten percent of medicines bought in pharmacies today are fakes. Fake medicines, which are not registered with the Bureau of Food and Drugs, may be useless, harmful, or even deadly.
This dangerously widespread occurrence pushed similarly-minded government agencies, and private institutions to form a coalition group to help combat and eventually eliminate this illegal trade. The Coalition Against Fake Medicines is composed of ten organizations - the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Justice (DOJ), Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DSAP), Mercury Drug Corporation, Zuellig Pharma Corporation, GMA 7 Broadcast Network, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Pfizer. Inc..
 |
| |
Present during the MOA signing were (standing from left): Manuel Quiogue, President, GMA 7 Network, Inc.; Celine Madamba, AVP-Strategic Marketing Communications, PDI; Jack Concepcion, VP-Merchandising, Mercury Drug, Inc; Dr. Jose Sabili, Vice President, Philippine Medical Association. Seated from left are Celia Carlos, President, Drugstores Association of the Philippines; Hon. J. Norman Jocson, Assistant Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Hon. Manuel Dayrit, Secretary, Department of Health; Rey Gerardo Bacarro, President and Country Manager, Pfizer, Inc; Hon. Macabangkit Lanto, Undersecretary, Department of Justice; and Michael Becker, President and CEO, Zuellig Pharma Corporation. |
|
Specifically, the Coalition will help consumers to become more vigilant about counterfeits through a mass media-based public awareness campaign, encourage drugstores to sell legitimate medicines, embolden government agencies to enforce laws and help mobilize legislators to tighten laws on counterfeits.
The coalition believes that the general public has the right to buy only safe and high quality drugs, and that counterfeiting is a serious offense that cannot be left unchecked. The coalition will be working in collaboration with the Bureau of Customs, the National Bureau of Investigation, the pharmaceutical industry, professional healthcare associations, consumer associations and non-governmental organizations in the surveillance of companies or groups suspected of drug counterfeiting.
“Given the limited resources, we can only do so much. That is why we need all the help we can get. Yes, even the consumers should be able to support,” DOH Secretary Manuel Dayrit says. “We need to be extra careful when we buy medicines. It is important that we examine the packaging of the medicines for poor craftsmanship. The prints on their labels are, more often than not, blurred or hazy; and their containers look like they had been tampered or recycled,” he adds.
For their part, pharmaceutical companies, like Pfizer, are starting to address the problem using state-of-the-art technology in printing and packaging their products. The DOH, through the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), has stepped up its operations to curb the proliferation of counterfeit drugs; among them is the strict registration of products prior to distribution, licensing and inspection of drug establishments, intense monitoring of products in drug outlets, collection and testing of samples and development of database of counterfeit drugs.
Dayrit also reports that people may die because of fake medicines. He emphasizes that the use of counterfeit drugs with little or no therapeutic value often leads to death, in life-threatening illnesses or situations.
The manufacturing, distribution and selling of counterfeit medicines is a crime punishable under Republic Act 8203, or The Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs. The public is urged to report any information on counterfeit medicines to 1-800-10-FAKEMED (3253-633), toll free from anywhere in the Philippines.
About the Members of the Coalition:
The Department of Health (DOH), as the steward of health, continues to embark on visionary, relevant and sustainable measures to address health problems. As the primary regulatory agency in charge of medicines, the DOH will be providing the expertise in protecting the health of the public and ensuring that measures are taken to minimize, and later on, eliminate the proliferation of counterfeit medicines.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), is represented in the coalition through its Consumer Welfare and Trade Regulations Division. Through its national network, the DTI will help facilitate consumer complaints related to fake medicines by accepting information and affected products in the DTI Consumer Welfare Desks found in all DTI offices nationwide. The DTI may also cancel the business name registration of outlets found to be selling counterfeit medicines.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is a critical partner to ensure that proper legal action is taken against those found to be selling or manufacturing counterfeit medicines. As a member of the coalition, the DOJ shall prioritize proceedings for the prosecution of cases relating to counterfeiting activities.
The doctors, through the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), are cognizant of the ill-effects of counterfeit drugs to patient health. Our medical professionals will be available as resource persons and will also disseminate information to their patients.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer and GMA-7 Broadcast Network are key in disseminating public information. By helping produce and place communication materials for mass media and informing the public about the dangers of counterfeit medicines, the coalition is able to help protect the health of the people.
Mercury Drug Corporation and other pharmacies under the Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DSAP) are venues where consumers purchase medicines. By displaying posters, airing the coalition’s TV commercial and distributing flyers, consumers are made aware of the existence of counterfeit medicines. It will be ensured that all owners, franchisees and members will not be selling counterfeit medicines or else they will face penalties.
Zuellig Pharma Corporation, one of the leading distributors in the country, is an important industry partner. Zuellig will manage the industry’s counterfeit medicines tollfree hotline (1-800-10-FAKEMED) for the duration of the campaign.
By providing the leadership and resources to embark on this campaign, Pfizer Inc., a leading healthcare company, strengthens its commitment to make Filipinos live longer, healthier and happier lives.
For more information about the Coalition and its activities, please contact Mr. Bong Osorio of Campaigns Advocacy and Public Relations at 8103861 - 63.
See the print ad material here.
See the video here.
|
