Closed clinic in Tarlac may be reopened if it follows guidelines —FDA exec

Dr. Farrah Agustin-Bunch Natural Medical Center, the clinic closed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following a raid last month, may reopen once it registers its products with the government.

"'Pag naging compliant po siya sa existing regulations ay mabubuksan po 'yan," said Ret. Gen. Allen Bantolo, FDA Regulatory Enforcement Unit OIC, in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV on Thursday.

"Hindi po natin sini-single out, but yun po kasi ang regulasyon, ine-enforce lang po natin yung batas," he added.

The FDA temporarily closed the clinic at Barangay Maluid following a raid last July 27 following tips from several prominent organizations.

Authorities said P800,000 worth of unregistered food supplements were seized from the raid.

"'Pag hindi po siya dumaan sa market authorization process ng FDA, hindi po siya safe ibigay sa tao. Yan po ang nasa batas natin. Binigyan po namin sila ng... pagkakataon para i-explain [ito]," Bantolo said.

The authorization process verifies the ingredients in the product and seeks to label them either as legitimate medicine or merely supplements.

"Kung once na meron siyang therapeutic claim, magiging gamot na po yun, dadaan na po yan ng clinical study, yung scientific research, kasi titingnan po natin yung effect sa tao," Bantolo said.

Despite this warning, Agustin-Bunch told GMA News that due process was supposedly not observed in the raid.

The doctor will face charges in addition to a P1-million fine for the sale of the unregistered products which were reportedly used as alternative treatments for cancer, arthritis, and other diseases. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News