Gov't seizes P28 M fake medicines, health products

The government has confiscated P28 million worth of fake medicines and other health products as of September under a campaign led by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to step up efforts against counterfeiting in the health sector.

- By LOUELLA DESIDERIO

According to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), the counterfeit medicines and health devices were intercepted by the FDA under its Oplan Katharos initiative launched in November last year for the detection, seizure, storage and responsible disposal of counterfeit, unregistered and non-compliant health products.

Of the P28 million worth of goods confiscated by the government, the IPOPHL said counterfeit drugs accounted for the bulk amounting to P21.9 million.

Food products placed second with an estimated value of P5.2 million.

The haul for cosmetics and household or urban and hazardous substances was valued at over P711,000, while health devices amounted to more than P142,000.

"Through coordinated operations and strict enforcement, FDA agents have seized a range of illicit items that threaten the safety of Filipino consumers. Each seizure represents a victory in our mission to ensure that only genuine and safe products are traded in the Philippine market," IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba said.