Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU, September 17 (PIA)
-- Sari-sari stores are not allowed to sell medicines even just basic drugs for
flu or colds, an official of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA-7)
stressed.
FDA-7 has
cautioned the public against purchasing medicines in convenience outlets.
Sariah Oriol, head of
the Food and Drug Section said under RA 6675 or the Generics Act, said
certified quality drugs can only be accessed in legitimate drug stores or
pharmacies that have the legal license to operate.
“Without the license, this
is a clear violation of the law which can be subject to a filing of a legal
case against the establishment,” said Oriol during yesterday’s forum of the
Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO-7) that tackled the annual
observance of September as Generics Month.
Oriol advised the public
especially those living in far-flung barangays to access basic medicines in
barangay health centers or in the ‘Botika ng Barangay’ outlets instead of
sari-sari stores.
From January to August
this year, Oriol said 112 out of around 800 establishments in Central Visayas
have been served with notice of violation of the Generics Act with some having
been padlocked due to gross violation.
Majority of these cases
are from Cebu, said Oriol.
He said common violations
are the absence of a license from the FDA to operate and make available in the
commercial market drug products and that some food and drug products are not
registered while other products alleged to contain certain ingredients but
actually do not based on test.
The cases are elevated
to the FDA legal office in Manila that will decide and issue the appropriate
penalty, whether it be suspension or closure depending on the gravity,
disclosed Oriol.
Penalties are defined
according to three categories, namely criminal, civil, and administrative
of which the latter can be decided by the Secretary of Health to either revoke
the license of the drug store or ask the Professional Regulations Commission to
revoke the license of the medical practitioner.
Oriol said penalties
stipulated under RA 6675 are amended in RA 9502 or the Universally Accessible
Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 with more severe penalties sepcified.
(rmn/fcr/PIA7)