DILG seeks ban on sale of medicines in sari-sari stores

THE INTERIOR Department has urged local governments across the country to enact an ordinance banning the sale of medicines following reports on the proliferation of fake medicines being sold in convenience or “sari-sari” stores.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año directed the police to arrest store owners who continue to sell medicines, saying sari-sari stores are not allowed to sell medicines.

“LGUs should protect the health and general welfare of their constituents. We, therefore, urge LGUs to ensure that sari-sari stores within their jurisdictions are not selling any medicine because under the law, hindi sila awtorisado. Inatasan din natin ang PNP na siguruhing hindi nagbebenta ng gamot ang mga sari-sari store at arestuhin ang sumusuway sa batas lalo na iyong mga naglalako ng pekeng gamot,” he said.

Año cited Section 30 of Republic Act No. 10918, otherwise known as the Philippine Pharmacy Act, which states that only Food and Drug Administration-licensed retail drug outlets or pharmacies are allowed to sell drugs and medicine to the public.

The FDA reported that they have received 185 reports on sari-sari stores that were illegally selling medicines and nine were retailing fake medicines, including Covid-19 medicines.

Año said they will work hand-in-hand with the FDA in issuing a Memorandum Circular to local governments for them to discontinue the sale of medicines at sari-sari stores and other outlets without FDA authorization.

“Sisiguraduhin natin na aaksyunan ito ng ating mga LGUs at ng ating kapulisan dahil kalusugan at kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan ang nakataya rito,” he said.

Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya also called on the public to buy medicines only in drug stores and pharmacies that have been authorized to sell medicines.

“Nakakatakot at delikado ang fake medicines, lalo’t nasa gitna pa rin tayo ng pandemya. Kaya naman nais kong bigyang-diin na kapag bibili tayo ng kahit anong medisina, napakaimportante na doon lamang tayo sa tiyak na mula sa legal manufacturers. Mere possession of counterfeit drugs is a punishable act under the law. We only want what’s best and safe for the public,” he said. (Zamboanga Post)