DOH to fully implement RH law by November
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) is looking at fully enforcing the controversial reproductive health (RH) law by the end of November when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues its certification on artificial contraceptives as “non-abortifacients.”
“Our target is by the end of November, the FDA will issue its approval on our family planning commodities…[then] we go on a full campaign and implementation for the RH law,” said Health Undersecretary Janette Garin in an interview with reporters on Thursday.
Garin said the health agency has already urged the FDA to give priority to the certification of artificial contraceptives which the government would make available to Filipino couples through the local health centers.
While there were “several thousands” of artificial contraceptives submitted both by the government and private firms to the FDA for certification, Garin said at least seven of them would be approved by November.
“But most of it will really be certified because those are really not abortifacients,” she said, adding that birth control pills and contraceptive implants would be among the first batch of contraceptives expected to get FDA certification by November 2014.
Signed by President Benigno Aquino in December 2012, the RH law allows the state to utilize public funds to educate the youth on reproductive health matters, provide couples with contraceptives and improve maternal health.
In April, the Supreme Court finally ruled that the RH law, strongly opposed by the Catholic Church, was “not unconstitutional” but struck down several provisions.
RELATED STORIES
SC: RH law constitutional
