Drugstores to show infomercial vs antibiotics

MANILA, Philippines–The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring all drugstores to run a Department of Health (DOH) infomercial on the growing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a condition where antibiotics may no longer work against infectious diseases.

In a memorandum, the FDA said the requirement on all drugstores, pharmacies and neighborhood boticas was in support of the strategy to help combat AMR.

It said the drug establishments should coordinate with the National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management to obtain a copy of the infomercial.

The center may be reached at tel. 6517800 ext. 2554-2558 or e-mail [email protected].

According to the World Health Organization, the irrational use of antimicrobial drugs is a “major driver” of AMR, which is linked to the unethical promotion of antibiotics and its irrational prescribing, dispensing and use by health workers and consumers.

In the Philippines, AMR has been identified as an emerging threat with multidrug resistant strains identified across major diseases, including tuberculosis, acute respiratory infections, gastrointestinal infections and hospital-acquired infections.–Jocelyn R. Uy