Pia leads summit for barangay health workers, declares war on 'fake medicines'

By Office of Sen. Pia Cayetano
July 1, 2009

PASAY CITY, Philippines  –  As part of her advocacy to empower the country’s community health workers, Senator Pia S. Cayetano led on Monday the very first Pinay In Action Health and Wellness Summit for some 400 Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) from four towns in the province of Pampanga.

The day-long event held at the Earth Park in Candaba town is jointly organized by Cayetano and the “Samahan Laban sa Pekeng Gamot” (SLPG), a multi-sectoral coalition which seeks to raise public awareness on the proliferation and danger of counterfeit medicines.

Local chief executives also helped organize the summit led by Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, along with Mayors Rodrigo "Digos" Canlas, Luis Espino, Rommel Concepcion and of the municipalities of San Simon, Arayat and Sta. Ana, respectively.

One of the event’s main thrusts is to educate BHWs on the dangers of counterfeit medicines and how to identify and report possible fake drugs.

“This is our way of educating and enhancing the skills of our BHWs, who are considered the frontliners in the delivery of basic health services to the community. Through this summit, we get to share with them crucial information on emerging health issues, such as the dangers of counterfeit drugs and what they can do to stop its proliferation,” said Cayetano, one of the authors of the landmark Cheaper Medicines Act (Republic Act 9502) and the soon to be signed law strengthening the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).

She said a counterfeit drug contains incorrect ingredients or insufficient amounts of active ingredients resulting in the reduction of its safety, efficacy or purity. It may also refer to a medicinal product which is deliberately and fraudulently mislabeled with respect to its identity and source.

She added that the manufacturing, distribution and selling of counterfeit medicines is a crime punishable under Republic Act 8203, or The Special Law on Counterfeit Drugs. Concerned citizens can report any information on counterfeit medicines through the SLPG’s website www.fakemed.ph or to 1-800-10-FAKEMED (3253-633), toll free from anywhere in the country.