FDA cracks down on 'ghost pharmacists'

Amid reports of so-called "ghost pharmacists" in some drug stores, the Food and Drug Administration has started a crackdown on establishments that employ such pharmacists. FDA head Kenneth Go reassured the public it has initiated a "series of activities" to address the "ghost pharmacies" and shortage of dedicated community pharmacists. "The FDA advises all consumers to buy their medicines from legitimate drug outlets.  All drugstore owners are warned to observe the provision of Administrative Order No. 56 series of 1989, which will be strictly enforced by the FDA drug inspectors. The FDA appeals to all pharmacists to adhere to the Code of Ethics for Pharmacist and to comply with the professional conduct of pharmacists as provided by the Pharmacy Law," he said in Advisory No. 2013-011 dated April 21, which was posted on the FDA website on Friday. He said the FDA is concerned over the claim by the Philippine Pharmacists Association and the Drugstores Association of the Philippines last April 13 about "ghost pharmacists." Ghost pharmacists are absentee registered pharmacists employed by unscrupulous drugstore owners. Citing Republic Act 5921, the Pharmacy Law, he said all drug outlets are required to be under the personal and immediate supervision of a registered pharmacist. The requirement is provided by Administrative Order 56 even as Go said "all drugstore owners are required to display the PRC license certificates of all employed pharmacists in a conspicuous place of the drugstores." 'Alarming' In his advisory, Go described as "alarming" the statement by PPhA executive vice president Dr. Yolanda Robles showed some 70 percent of owners in the Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) area have no pharmacists. "The FDA would like to assure the public that the FDA shall continue to make sure that safe and effective medicines are available to consumers in the Camanava area and the rest of the country," he said. Robles was quoted in a report of the Philippine Daily Inquirer as saying a survey by the head of the Professional Regulatory Commission’s Board of Pharmacy in Camanava last October found 70 percent of drug stores there had no pharmacists “at the time of her visit.” Yet, she said 100 percent of these drug stores had "certificates," adding "pharmacists should be present at all times.” She said it is worse in the provinces, where the lack of inspectors may allow a drug store to open without licenses or pharmacists. Robles added there were more than 20,000 drug stores in the country, but the PPA has only 12,600 registered members. Pharmacists Go said that as of October 2012, there were 32,443 retail drug outlets all over the country, 5,132 more than in 2010. This does not include 625 retail outlets for non-prescription drugs and 332 Chinese drugstores, 302 drug manufacturers, 45 medical device manufacturers, 412 drug traders, and 6,044 drug distributors, which he said also require the presence of pharmacists when open for business. "Chain of drugstores and drug manufacturers or distributors requires more than one pharmacist. The figures do not include veterinary drug establishments all over the country. According to Dr. Robles, there are only around 20,000 registered pharmacists," he said. On the other hand, he said the lack of licensed pharmacists in community service became evident when the DOH launched the Botika ng Barangay (BNB) Project in 2000. Reviewing pharmacy law He also said the FDA faces the challenge, "if not the dilemma," of ensuring all Filipinos have access to essential medicines down to the farthest barangay. For now, Go said the FDA has taken steps to review the Pharmacy Law, even as it noted there are legislations that may prevent full access to essential medicines and health products in the regions. Last January, he said Board of Pharmacy chairperson Marilyn Tiu reported disparities in the number of licensed pharmacists who are in community practice and the number of drug establishments licensed by the FDA. He also said the FDA met with National Center for Pharmaceutical Access Management (NCPAM) program manager Dr. Virginia Ala last February to align the current FDA objectives with the plans of the NCPAM. More meetings may take place with stakeholders, he said. "(T)he FDA will undertake several consultations with stakeholders, including the legislators and the civil society, to help find the balance and the solution that would best serve the interest of the public," he said. — LBG, GMA News