FDA asks LGUs to pass ordinance banning sari-sari stores from selling medicines

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has asked local government units to pass their respective ordinances prohibiting sari-sari (variety) store  from selling medicines, including fake ones.

On Monday’s Talk to the People presided by President Rodrigo Duterte, FDA officer in charge director general Oscar Gutierrez Jr. warned of the dangers consumers might face if they buy from unlicensed outlets.

“Maybe they can pass an ordinance that sari-sari stores should not carry medicines, this has been done in Davao de Oro,” he said.

Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Ano, in response said he will issue a memorandum circular “to have this campaign against selling fake medicines (stopped) up to the level of sari-sari stores.”

“They are dangerous to the health of our constituents,” he added.

In his report during the Cabinet briefing, Gutierrez said that from January 13 to February 11 this year, 185 sari-sari stores were found retailing medicines, including COVID-19 related drugs, from the National Capital Region, Region IV-A and Region V.

Nine of these stores were selling fake medicines, he added.

Gutierrez said this was in violation of Republic Act 10918 or the Philippine Pharmacy Act and the FDA Act of 2009.

Duterte directed the FDA to pursue the violators, especially those selling counterfeit drugs, up to their prosecution in court.

“There must be a follow up in prosecution para mahinto na ito,” he said.

Gutierrez said the agency has also linked with social media site Facebook and online shopping sites such as Lazada and Shopee to determine easier violations in marketing the fake medicines using the platforms.

He said that as of February this year, at least 2,202 posts have been removed for containing false information about the medicines.—LDF, GMA News