Media Reports on Medicines Quality - US Pharmacopeial Convention

Whitening soap,
others
Influenza vaccines
Tegral (anticonvulsant),
Chloromycetin
(antibiotic),
Sensorcaine
(anesthetic), Lasix
(diuretic), and
Plendil
(antihypertensive)
Weight loss
medications,
vitamin and food
supplements
Glutathione (skin
whitener)
pharmaceutical ingredient.
The Department of Health estimates that 10% of the medicines
available in the Philippines are fake. From 2002–2005, there
were 20 cases reported of companies manufacturing fake
medicines.
NBI seized P 1.4 million (USD $29,500) worth of counterfeit
whitening soap and medicine from several establishments in
Manila.
The Department of Health issued a warning that counterfeit
medicines are being sold in Cagayan Valley.
NBI seized P4 million (USD $91,000) worth of fake flu
vaccines in San Pedro, Laguna and arrested a former
representative of a pharmaceutical firm. The confiscated
vaccines contained only distilled water.
NBI seized P25 million (USD $571,000) worth of fake
medicines imported from India, Pakistan, and Singapore and
arrested a businessman allegedly involved with the distribution
and sale of the fakes. A total of 43,850 tablets of Tegral,
Chloromycetin, Sensorcaine, Lasix, and Plendil were
confiscated. According to NBI, this is the largest haul of fake
medicines they have conducted.
Dr. Erwin Baclig, head of the Licensing, Regulation, and
Enforcement Division of the Department of Health, said that the
DOH has confiscated “a lot” of weight loss medications and
vitamin and food supplements which have been found to contain
harmful or prohibited substances.
Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) arrested a
midwife who had been unlawfully administering intravenous
glutathione, a skin whitener.
cbnnews.com Accessed: Oct 16, 2008.
Fabunan, S. Counterfeiting of drugs still a
nuisance. Business Mirror. Nov 12, 2008.
Available at: www.businessmirror.com.ph
Accessed: Nov 12, 2008
Santos, T. Fake whitening soap, drugs seized.
Philippine Daily Inquirer. Dec 14, 2008.
Available at: www.services.inquirer.net
Accessed: Dec 15, 2008
DOH warns public on fake drugs. PIA
Information Services. Jun 4, 2009. Available at:
www.pia.gov.ph Accessed Jun 5, 2009
Crisostomo, S. DOH warns vs fake flu vaccines.
Philstar. July 30, 2009. Available at:
www.philstar.com Accessed: Aug 4, 2009
Araneta, S. NBI seizes P25-M counterfeit drugs.
PhilStar. Nov 20, 2010. Available at:
www.philstar.com Accessed Nov 22, 2010.
Dar, L. DOH warns public vs counterfeit drugs,
vitamins, and food supplements. Philippine
Information Agency. Dec 4, 2010. Available at:
www.pia.gov.ph Accessed Dec 14, 2010
16 injections failed to whiten her skin. Manila
Bulletin. May 11, 2011. Available at:
www.mb.com.ph Accessed May 11, 2011
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