The main office of the Food and Drugs Administration in Muntinlupa City. (Photo from the FDA Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Don’t buy medicines from illegal outlets, President Rodrigo Duterte warned consumers on Monday during his taped weekly “Talk to the People” briefing.
“Make a little sacrifice by going to the legitimate outlets that are known by the FDA,” Duterte said in Filipino, referring to the Food and Drug Administration.
“Do not buy online because a lot of these online are rackets — almost in every transaction completed or perfected online,” he went on.
“You can be sure, you’ll not only buy a fake medicine you’ll also buy a fake medication that will only worsen your sickness, and maybe death will follow,” he added.
Duterte said this after FDA officer-in-charge Oscar Gutierrez warned the public against buying medicine from illegal online stores, sari-sari stores, and other outlets that are not FDA-licensed.
Gutierrez also clarified that only FDA-licensed drug outlets that have permits were authorized to get orders and deliver medicines.
Duterte then ordered the FDA to provide consumers with information cards with a list of FDA-licensed outlets, even suggesting printing the list on a billboard.
“Better way of doing it is to paint it large. Put it on a billboard,” he added.
Duterte admitted that his suggestion might not be legal.
“Bahala na,” he said, uttering a Filipino often used to express “come what may.”
“Rather than allow the continued exposure of citizens to a crime that is really very very vicious, I will allow that kind of practice. Just put the Office of the President so that you won’t be sued — just me,” he said.
The FDA issued the warning after the spread of fake medicines, especially during the pandemic.
According to the FDA, 21 out of 926 drug outlets nationwide are suspected to be selling fake medicines and diagnostic kits.
READ: FDA warns public vs fake drugs