DILG directs LGUs to strengthen Botika ng Bayan programs

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday said it has directed local government units (LGUs) to strengthen Botika ng Bayan and Botika ng Barangay programs amid reports of some sari-sari stores selling medicines and fake drugs prohibited under the law.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año earlier urged LGUs to issue ordinances on the ban and the Philippine National Police to arrest violators who will be found involved in the unauthorized sale.

“Mayroon din tayong paguutos na i-strengthen ng ating mga LGUs yung mga ibang programa ng pamahalaan katulad ng Botika sa Barangay at saka Botika ng Bayan,” Año said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

(We also have an order for our LGUs to strengthen other government programs such as Botika sa Barangay and Botika ng Bayan.)

Año said around 170 Botika ng Bayan outlets have been established nationwide.

The Botika ng Barangay program was launched under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001. It was revived in 2018 under the name Botika ng Bayan.

“Yung Botika ng Barangay dating programa simula pa sa panahon ni GMA na kung saan sa mga barangay tinutulungan din ng LGU na ang isang committee or organization or isang NGO pwede magtayo ng drug outlet basta mayroong isa lang nagsusupervise na pharmacist at tinutulungan natin yan na maaprubahan para ito magsisilbing bilihan na mga gamot mas mura kesa doon sa tinatawag na drugstore,” he explained.

(The Botika ng Barangay was a program since the time of Macapagal-Arroyo where the LGU also helps a committee, organization or an NGO to build a drug outlet in the barangay as long as there is only one supervising pharmacist and we help that to be approved for it will serve as an authorized drugstore that sells cheaper medicines.)

“Yung Botika ng Bayan eto sinimulan yan sa panahon ni Pangulong Duterte noong 2018, mga 4th and 5th class municipalities yung malalayo libre naman to yung mga gamot na ordinaryong sakit libre yan sa mga 170 Botika ng Bayan mayroon tayo sa buong bansa, kaya maganda na i-strengthen natin yan,” he added.

(The Botika ng Bayan was started during President Duterte's term in 2018, where farthest areas in 4th and 5th class municipalities offered the free medicines for ordinary diseases. It is free in the 170 Botika ng Bayan we have all over the country, so it's good to strengthen those programs.)

Año said the Department of Health (DOH) has allotted budget for the said programs, noting that the Health Department also increased budget for it to make sure that farthest municipalities will have Botika ng Bayan.

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.

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. — RSJ, GMA News