FOLLOWING reports on the proliferation of fake medicines in small retail stores, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) today urged local government units (LGUs) to enact ordinances banning the sale of medicines in sari-sari stores nationwide.
At the same time, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to immediately arrest violators who still persist in selling medicines, especially fake ones, despite the lack of authority to sell them.
“LGUs should protect the health and general welfare of their constituents. We, therefore, urge LGUs to ensure that sari-sari stores within their jurisdictions are not selling any medicine because under the law, hindi sila autorisado,” Año said.
“Inatasan din natin ang PNP na siguruhing hindi nagbebenta ng gamot ang mga sari-sari store at arestuhin ang sumusuway sa batas lalo na iyong mga naglalako ng pekeng gamot,” he added.
Under Section 30 of Republic Act (RA) No. 10918 otherwise known as the Philippine Pharmacy Act, only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-licensed retail drug outlets or pharmacies are allowed to sell drugs and medicine to the consuming public.
During the weekly “Talk to the People” of President Rodrigo Duterte on PTV4 on February 14, the FDA reported that from January 13 to February 11, they have received 185 reports on sari-sari stores that were illegally selling medicines, in which 78 were confirmed to be guilty. Of this number, nine stores were retailing fake medicines including COVID medicines.
With this, the FDA requested the DILG to urge all LGUs to pass ordinances to ban sari-sari stores from selling medicines.
Año expressed support to the FDA and said the DILG will work hand-in-hand with them in issuing a Memorandum Circular (MC) to LGUs for them to discontinue the sale of medicines at the level of sari-sari stores and other outlets without FDA authorization.
“Sisiguraduhin natin na aaksyunan ito ng ating mga LGUs at ng ating kapulisan dahil kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan ang nakataya rito,” he said.
Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya called on the public to buy medicines only in drug stores and pharmacies that have been authorized to sell medicines.
“Nakakatakot at delikado ang fake medicines, lalo’t nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng pandemya. Kaya naman nais kong bigyang-diin na kapag bibili tayo ng kahit anong medisina, napakaimportante na doon lamang tayo sa tiyak na mula sa legal manufacturers,” he added.
“Mere possession of counterfeit drugs is a punishable act under the law. We only want what’s best and safe for the public,” he said.
RA No. 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs provides that those possessing fake medicines face imprisonment of not less than six months and one day.
