By Pearl Gumapos
The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) on Saturday (Jan. 8) assured that the medicine that they are distributing in the country is not fake.
“Sini-sigurado namin na iyong gamot na dini-distribute dito sa Pilipinas ay hindi po fake. Ang advice namin sa ating mga kababayan, bumili lang po doon sa licensed drug stores,” PHAP Vice President Jannette Jakosalem said during the Laging Handa public briefing.
“Huwag pong bumili sa black market. Minsan, sa online, mayroon din napepeke,” she added.
On the effect of fake medicine, Jakosalem said it’s hard to tell what the effect may be.
“Mahirap sabihin iyong magiging epekto. Posible na walang effect. Posibleng mayroon ding mga side effects. Pero mahirap nang sabihin kung ano iyon,” she explained.
“Ongoing po ang coordination na PHAP with government agencies. Kapag mayroon nakarating sa amin na balita na may nagbebenta ng pekeng gamot, automatic nire-report natin iyan sa FDA, sa DTI, at sa NBI.” – bny
