By Perla G. Lena
TACLOBAN CITY, (PNA) –The public is urged to report to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) if there are drug stores operating in the region without a licensed pharmacist.
FDA supervisor in Eastern Visayas, Dr. Sonia Cabahit said that to date there are five drug stores in the region that were found to have no licensed pharmacists. They were reprimanded and advised to close temporarily.
“If there is no pharmacist that drug store is illegal. As long as the drug store is open there should be a pharmacist supervising in the dispensing of the medicine,” she pointed out.
She added that they have learned that some drug stores could not afford to give high salaries to pharmacists.
The celebration of the Consumer Welfare Awareness Month spearheaded by the DOH-FDA is focused on medical devices and cosmetic and health products as it anchor’s on the theme “Health products’ quality, efficacy, safety and transparency…. everybody’s concern.”
“Efficiency is assured as long as it is bought in licensed drug stores. You need not buy branded medicines,” she said.
Cabahit encouraged the public to text the name and location of the drug store at 0916 446 6256 if it has no licensed pharmacist.
She added that they need not identify themselves, just provide the necessary information, for the FDA to immediately act on it.