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FDA calls for public vigilance vs counterfeit medicines
By Leilani S. Junio

MANILA - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday appealed for more public participation in the fight against the proliferation of counterfeit medicines.

According to Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go the government alone, together with its collaborations among different agencies, could not do the whole task without the participation of the public and consumers.

"Participation of the society is vital to win this fight,” said Dr. Hartigan-Go in a forum held Monday at Acacia Hotel in Alabang, Muntinlupa City as he cited the detrimental effects of counterfeit medicines on the health of the public.

He said that counterfeit medicines had tended to cause adverse reactions to other medications and possibility of having disability and serious health implications.

The forum was in line with the observance of National Consciousness Week against Counterfeit Medicines (NCWACM).

The observance is provided under Presidential Proclamation No. 2082 series of 2010 that declared every third week of November every year for the commemoration.

With the theme “Mamamayan Makialam, Pekeng Gamot Labanan," the observance called for consumers to actively participate, engage, and be vigilant in the fight.

The Undersecretary of Health said that since the problem was also global, it was important to continue raising awareness and ensuring that the demand side of the market was involved.

He said that the department had also formed a coalition for safe medicines, which focuses on public information and advocacy, research, and policy development to address the problem on counterfeit medicine.

Melody M. Zamudio, RPh (registered pharmacist) and officer-in-charge of FDA's center for drug regulations and research, said that united effort was needed for the problem.

“As the consumers face the greatest threat of counterfeit medicines they should be empowered and be aware that they can safeguard themselves and participate in the fight against counterfeit medicines by practicing rationale use of medicine,reporting suspected counterfeit products and increasing vigilance.”Zamudio said.

She said that based on the data they had gathered, out of the 564 samples verified or tested in laboratories, about 6 percent of which were found to be counterfeit.

She added that based also from that number, they found that 81 percent were unregistered, 13 percent of which were illegally-diverted (genuine products that are not intended for the Philippine market).

FDA has recalled the products found counterfeited and issued public advisories to the public not to patronize them.

Some Php 2,9-million worth of counterfeit medicines proliferated the local market last year. The amount rose to Php 5.9 million as of October this year.

Most of the counterfeit medicines are over the counter medicines while others were found to have originated from the countries of India, Pakistan and China.

Most of the counterfeit medicines were detected this year proliferating in Metro Manila, Cavite, Pampanga, Isabela, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Davao and Zamboanga.

Some of the signs that medicines are counterfeit include the following:

The product is easily crushed, discolored, with crystals or with unusually foul odor;

The text in the blister fact is not clearly printed, or can be easily removed/erased;

Improper packaging such as leak in bottles or tampering;

It is also likely that the product is counterfeit if it was purchased in unlicensed outlets/establishments and was not issued with an official receipt.

Consumers may report the suspected counterfeit and unregistered medicines to (02) 807-8275 or at [email protected].

FDA also advised the public to purchase their medicines only from FDA-licensed establishments and to always ask for official receipt. (PNA)

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