DILG to critics: Seek amendment to law limiting sale of medicines to pharmacies

MANILA, Philippines — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya on Tuesday urged critics to seek an amendment to the law limiting the sale of medicines to licensed pharmacies and retail outlets.

Malaya said the department was just following Section 30 of Republic Act No. 10918, or the Philippine Pharmacy Act, which states that only FDA-licensed retail drug outlets or pharmacies are allowed to sell drugs and medicines to the public.

“Ang sa tingin ko po dito, ang solusyon dito, ay amyendahan ang batas. Amyendahan natin ang batas, ‘yung mga kritiko natin, ‘yung mga questioning itong naging hakbang ng DILG ay magpasa po sila ng panukalang batas sa Kongreso para mapalitan na ito,” Malaya said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo.

(I think the solution here is to amend the law. Critics and those questioning the move of the DILG should file a bill in Congress to amend this law.)

“Siguro ang gagawin po natin ay makikipag-usap tayo sa FDA kung pwede silang maglabas ng some kind of regulation kung saan ‘yung mga commonly used over-the-counter drugs ay mas maluwag para sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(Maybe what we will do is talk to the FDA if they can issue some kind of regulation where the sale of commonly used over-the-counter drugs will be easier to the public.)

The DILG earlier called on local governments to pass ordinances to ban the sale of any kind of medicine in “sari-sari” stores nationwide.

Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao earlier said this is very impractical for those living in rural areas.  

The DILG’s move came after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported to President Duterte that from January 13 to February 11, it had received 185 reports about sari-sari stores illegally selling medicines.

Of the 78 confirmed violators, nine were retailing fake drugs, including COVID-19 medicines, according to the FDA.

‘Yan po ang ating regulasyon ngayon at until maglabas ang FDA ng some sort of compromise siguro or regulasyon, walang magagawa ang department kundi ipatupad ang nakasaad sa ating batas,” said Malaya.

(This will be our regulation now and until the FDA releases some sort of compromise or regulation, the department cannot do anything but to enforce what is stated in the law.)

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