The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Sunday about the proliferation of fake over-the-counter medicines.
FDA Director Nela Charade Puno said that counterfeit OTC medicines may pose serious health risks when consumed. “The presence, proliferation, and selling of counterfeit OTC medicines in the market poses great danger and health risks to consumers,” said Puno.
“The public should be wary and vigilant against those fake OTC medicines. Consumers should buy them only from reputable drug stores,” she added.
The FDA official issued the advisory after the agency was able to arrest an alleged distributor and supplier of fake drugs identified as Alexis Asistio, 36, in his residence in Tondo, Manila recently.
FDA-Regulatory Enforcement Unit head Allen Bantolo said that Asistio was caught in possession and control of assorted counterfeit medicines “for no other purpose other than illicit distribution, sale, and offering for sale of said drugs.”
“Asistio and his cohorts are believed to be distributing and selling these assorted fake OTC products to sari-sari and other similar small stores in and around Metro Manila at cheap prices, and offering substantial profits for the vulnerable and uninformed storeowners,” said Bantolo.
Charges have been filed against Asistio at the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office for violation of Section 4 subsection (a) in relation to subsection (b) of Republic Act No. 8203 or the Special Laws on Counterfeit Drugs, said Bantolo. (Analou de Vera)
