DILG orders arrest of sari-sari store owners in unauthorized sale of medicines

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Thursday announced the start of crackdown against sari-sari stores selling medicines and fake drug prohibited under the law.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said he has directed the Philippine National Police to arrest violators who will be found involved in the unauthorized sale.

“Inatasan din natin ang PNP na siguraduhing 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.

(We directed the PNP to ensure that sari-sari stores do not sell medicines and to arrest those who violate the law, especially those who sell counterfeit drugs.)

Año urged local government units (LGUs) to issue ordinances on the ban.

“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 autorisado (they are not authorized),” Interior Secretary  said in a statement.

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officer in charge director general Oscar Gutierrez Jr. earlier reported that at least 185 sari-sari stores from the National Capital Region, Region IV-A and Region V were found retailing medicines, including COVID-19 related drugs.

Año, in coordination with the FDA, had said he would issue a Memorandum Circular (MC) to LGUs for them to discontinue the sale of medicines at the level of 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.

(We will make sure that our LGUs and our policemen take action because the health and welfare of our countrymen are at stake here.)

Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya appealed to 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,” he added.

(The proliferation of fake medicines is alarming, especially since we are still in a pandemic. I want to emphasize that when we buy any medicine, it is very important that we only buy it from legal manufacturers.)

Under Section 30 of Republic Act No. 10918 also known as the Philippine Pharmacy Act, only the FDA-licensed retail drug outlets or pharmacies are allowed to sell medicines to the consuming public.—LDF, GMA News