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Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Food bureau assures strict lab tests on imported drugs
By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
BACOLOD CITY -- The Bureau of Food and Drugs (Bfad) in Negros has assured the public Tuesday that laboratory procedures would be strictly followed before the introduction of imported drugs to the market.
Elizabeth Genada, Bfad-Negros regulations officer, explained that an imported drug, which could soon flood the market owing to the Cheaper Medicine Bill, must undergo documentary and technical requirements.
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Under the technical requirements, a particular drug must undergo laboratory tests and efficacy study.
Genada believed that these requirements are cumbersome enough to ensure drugs quality and safety before they are sold to the market.
"At the end of the process, after completion of documents and laboratory tests, Bfad will then issue a certificate of product registration. The imported drug at this level is ready for the market," Genada added.
Though Genada is not yet fully apprised on the Bfad Empowerment Act of 2007 filed by Senator Loren Legarda, since this is still pending at the Senate committee level, she opined that this is a welcome move considering that laboratories would be localized.
Legarda's proposal aims to strengthen the regulatory capacity of Bfad by establishing adequate testing laboratories and field offices, upgrading its equipment, augmenting its human resource complement, and giving authority to retain its income, among others.
In the absence of implementing rules and regulation (IRR), Genada opined that the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) would play an active role in importing cheaper medicines.
"PITC has a mandate in the implementation of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's 10-point legacy, which includes the lowering of the prices of essential medicines by 50 percent, by 2010," Genada explained.
She also assumed the Department of Health (DOH)-Bfad could issue high priority drug lists as demanded by consumers.
"Among these are all kinds of antibiotics, paracetamols, and mostly over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Maintenance drugs could be another category," Genada said. (Sun.Star Bacolod/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. (May 7, 2008 issue)
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