UN report calling PH a ‘hotspot for fake medicines’ alarming — House leader

Deputy Speaker and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez called on his colleagues to look into the prevalence of fake medicines in the country.

Fernandez said the 2019 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) titled “Transnational Organized Crime in Southeast Asia: Evolution, Growth and Impact” revealed that the Philippines has become a “hotspot” for fake medicines.

Fernandez said the report should not be ignored.

Under House Resolution No. 220, the House leader said the House Committees on Health and Good Government and Public Accountability should probe the “alarming” report showing that the Philippines has the highest incidence of fake medicines in Southeast Asia.

“This report is alarming as the report depicted the country as a hotspot for knockoff drugs. The report further claims from 2014 to 2017, fake medicines mostly from Pakistan, India, and China entered the Philippines on illicit trade network,” Fernandez said.

He also expressed concern over locally manufactured counterfeit over-the-counter medicines that have reportedly infiltrated the Philippine market.

“There is a need for the government to unmask which of these misbranded, spurious, fake and falsely-labeled drugs have entered the market and duped Filipinos,” he pointed out.

Fernandez recalled that the two years ago, President Duterte directed the arrest of the makers and sellers of counterfeit paracetamol brands in the country, describing availability of the fake medicines in the market as a growing threat.

“If reports are true that these fake medicines are sold cheap in sari-sari stores, then they are victimizing the poor who often have to borrow money to buy medicines or cost-cut by buying doses lower than what the doctor has prescribed,” he said.

Fernandez said the House Committee on Health, chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina Tan, and the House Committee on Good Government, chaired by Bulacan Rep. Jose Sy-Alvarado should conduct an investigation to ascertain such reports and institute the needed policies.

“Trade in fake medicines was and is a large swindle of the harshest kind, as the victims are of the hopes that they are taking genuine medicines that will cure them,” he said.

“The large amounts of money spent by Filipinos yearly for medicines and pharmaceutical preparations should encourage the government to protect their health, safety, and above all, money,” Fernandez added.