Pia: After cheaper meds, law seeking quality medicines
to be signed on Tuesday

Senator Pia S. Cayetano said Filipinos can look forward not only to cheaper, but also quality medicines with the impending enactment of the "Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Act of 2009."

The landmark measure is expected to be signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday, August 18.

Cayetano said the enrolled measure is meant to complement RA 9052, the "Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008," by expanding the regulatory and monitoring capacity of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

It seeks to reconstitute the bureau into the FDA and strengthen its capacity to go after counterfeit medicines and other "violative" health products including food, cosmetics and medical devices.

"These two laws go hand-in-hand. Current efforts by the government to cut prices of essential medicines by half must be reinforced by strengthening the regulatory agency that is tasked to ensure the quality and efficacy of these products," said the lady senator, a principal sponsor of both measures.

The measure will establish FDA product-testing laboratories in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao and expand its presence nationwide by maintaining field offices in all regions and dispatching inspectors in major ports of entry.

To augment the agency's budget, the FDA will be allowed 'fiscal independence' to retain all fees, fines, royalties and other charges it collects, without requiring prior approval from any government department.

Cayetano said BFAD currently suffers from a chronic shortage in personnel, equipment and funds to enable it to effectively monitor some 51,000 products registered with the bureau and 46,000 establishments nationwide that manufacture or sell health products.

In the wake of the A-H1N1 flu pandemic, she stressed that reports of fake anti-flu vaccines and food supplements claiming false cures against the new virus have also caused concern among consumers and stakeholders in the public health system.

"Under the measure, the FDA will be authorized to immediately ban, recall or withdraw health products that fail safety standards or found to pose a threat to public health. The agency will also be allowed to conduct spot checks on establishments for compliance, issue cease-and-desist orders and seize 'violative' products," she added.

A staunch anti-fake medicines advocate, Cayetano is the spokesperson of the "Samahan Laban sa Pekeng Gamot" (SLPG) a multi-sectoral coalition that raises awareness on the proliferation and dangers of counterfeit drugs.

Concerned citizens can report any information on counterfeit medicines through the SLPG's website www.fakemed.ph or by calling its hotline at 1-800-10-FAKEMED (3253-633), toll free from anywhere in the country.