10% of Drugs Fake in Philippines

Filipino lawmakers are seeking strong anti-counterfeiting legislation after a national report announced that one of every ten drugs is fake.

Filipino lawmakers are seeking strong anti-counterfeiting legislation after a national report announced that one of every ten drugs is fake.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante Mindanao party-list Maximo Rodriguez filed House Resolution 742 to start an inquiry by the Committee on Health after reviewing a report by The Filipino Coalition Against Fake Medicines (SAMAHAN) identifying 10% of all medicines in the Philippines as fake, reports the Philippine Journal.

The Filipino Coalition Against Fake Medicines, Samahan Laban sa Pekeng Gamot, is a public and private sector group committed to educating Filipinos about the dangers of fake drugs. Among the coalition members are The Department of Justice, the Drugstore Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Medical Association and the Philippine Pharmacists Association, as well private pharmaceutical makers and retailers.

This follows on the heels of a large fake drug bust in December, when the National Bureau of Investigation seized more than P25 million in fake medications during a sting operation.
Regarding their push for inquiry into counterfeit medications, the representatives stated, “There is a need to intensify the enforcement of Republic Act 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs, which punishes sellers of fake drugs with imprisonment of up to six years and a fine of at least P100,000 in order to deter the entry and sale of these fake medicines in the market. There is further need to look at additional safeguards to totally eliminate these counterfeit medicines from the Philippine market to ensure the safety of our consuming public.”