Solon wants bill against fake medicines passed

An agent inspects a box of what the Bureau of Customs says are fake medicines – packed in cartons tagged with Chinese characters – that it confiscated in Barangay Marcelo, Parañaque City on Jan. 5, 2022. (File photo from the Bureau of Customs)

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker has called on his colleagues to prioritize a bill to bolster existing mechanisms against fake medicines amid fears that contraband items are being sold online to evade authorities.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Raymund Yamsuan said House Bill No. 3984, or the proposed Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Products Prevention Act, will strengthen the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) campaign against counterfeit drugs.

Yamsuan is one of the co-authors of the measure, which was filed in August 2022 and is still pending with the House Committee on Trade and Industry.

“Our porous borders and easy access to goods online make our country vulnerable to the entry and use of counterfeit products, including medicines,” Yamsuan said.

“While authorities continue to work tirelessly to stop pharmaceutical crimes, we must send a strong message, through measures like House Bill 3984, that those responsible behind them deserve to be severely punished,” he noted.

READ: FDA warns vs fake versions of popular medicines 

The lawmaker asked for the bill’s prioritization after the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) partnered with the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) for a campaign to rid markets of counterfeit medicines.

In a post on IPOPHL’s website on April 17, Director General Rowel Barba said the memorandum of understanding with PHAP would make the most of intellectual properties in fighting the sale of counterfeit drugs.

“By creating an environment that stimulates innovation through IP, we can ensure widespread access to quality and affordable medicines for our people even as we protect IP rights from possible infringement and the public against counterfeit drugs,” Barba said.

READ: BOC vows tough stand vs entry of counterfeit medicines 

In May 2023, the Food and Drug Administration warned the public about counterfeit versions of some popular over-the-counter pain relievers and flu medicines like brands Alaxan, Neozep Forte, Bioflu, Tuseran Forte, Ponstan, Diatabs, Kremil-S, Medicol Advance and Lomotil.