Stores may apply for authorization to sell OTC medicines —Secretary Año

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said Friday that sari-sari stores may apply for authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell medicines.

On GMA News' "Unang Balita," Ao was asked to comment on the public's call for sari-sari stores to be allowed to sell over-the-counter (OTC) medications, but not prescription drugs.

“Puwede naman actually mag-apply sila sa FDA, yung mga tindahan. At kung sila ay mabigyan ng authorization, puwede na silang magbenta,” he said.

(Sari-sari stores can actually apply for authorization from the FDA. If their application is approved, they can sell medicines.)

Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire supported the position of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Kami po ay kaisa ng FDA, ng DILG, at even ng DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) at lahat po ahensya ng gobyerno para sugpuin natin ang pagkalat ng fake [medicines]. Sugpuin din natin yung mga stores o pamilihan na hindi naman po sila authorized ay nagbebenta po sila ng gamot,” she said at a Palace press conference on Friday. 

(We join the FDA, DILG, DTI, and all concerned agencies in preventing the spread of fake medicines. We should also put a stop to stores that sell medicines but aren't authorized to do so.)

On Thursday, the DILG announced the start of a crackdown against sari-sari stores selling medicines and fake drugs prohibited under the law.

Año urged local government units to issue ordinances banning the sale of medicines in sari-sari stores, and directed the Philippine National Police to arrest violators.

Some people are appealing to allow the sale of over–the-counter medicines at least in these stores, considering possible emergency cases and the distance of pharmacies from their residences.

Under Section 30 of Republic Act 10918 also known as the Philippine Pharmacy Act, only FDA-licensed retail drug outlets or pharmacies are allowed to sell medicines to the consuming public. —LBG/VBL, GMA News