FDA notes lack of pharmacists in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, May 25  -- The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has cited the absence of license pharmacists as one of the major problems of drugstores operating in Eastern Visayas.

FDA Deputy Director General Emilio Polig Jr said they found this problem in the region when they inspected establishments selling medicines last year.

Republic Act No. 10918, or the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2015, states that only licensed pharmacists have the exclusive right to dispense medicines inside a licensed establishment.

“But this is not exclusive to Eastern Visayas. Other regions also have this kind of problem,” Polig revealed during a forum with law enforcers and local government officials here Thursday.

“That is why the FDA needs the assistance of local government units at the local level law enforcement because the approval of licenses and business permits is in their hands,” he said.

The FDA inspected 727 drug stores, 269 establishments selling food supplements, 34 medical device traders, and 15 cosmetic stores.

Aside from the absence of licensed pharmacists, the FDA also found that some establishments have been selling unregistered health products, do not have a license to operate, or are operating with an expired license.

FDA Director General Nela Charade Galang-Puno attributed the lack of licensed pharmacists to low salary.

“Our pharmacists have been pirated by other countries. We are trying to come up with a plan to address this problem. It is important that we develop an appropriate technology for the creation of virtual pharmacy or tele-pharmacy if a store has no pharmacist available,” Puno said.

Meanwhile, she asked policemen and local chief executives in Eastern Visayas to help them enforce consumer protection laws.

Specifically, the FDA asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) to lead the enforcement of laws related to health product regulations.

Earlier, the FDA and PNP created Task Force D-PUNCH (Destroy Products Unfit for the Consumption of Humans) in an effort to reduce, if not eliminate counterfeit, unregistered, adulterated and misbranded health products.

The official also urged mayors to ensure compliance with consumer protection laws before approving licenses and permits to establishments.

“FDA is not a barrier to trade. Our mission is to ensure the quality and safety of products and at the same time that the consumers are protected,” Puno said during a meeting at Hotel Estrella here.

The FDA has been regularly sending advisories to local government units to warn people of fake products in the market.

“I am looking forward (to) more collaboration and ensure public health and public safety. It is important that we are able to explain everything so that people will be aware of the consequences if they use unsafe health products,” Puno added. (RTA/PNA)