Government to conduct probe amid US concerns on fake drugs

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) plan to conduct an investigation to determine the source of counterfeit medicines in the country following a recent US government report citing the Philippines as one of the leading  sources of fake medicines distributed globally.

The IPOPHL will also tap into an existing partnership with the Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) to address the US government’s concerns on counterfeit medicines even as the agency emphasized  that no fake medicines are being produced in the country.

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual told reporters on the sidelines of the 2024 Gawad Yamang Isip Awards there is a need to conduct an investigation to determine the source of the counterfeit medicines.

“The problem is we don’t know the source of the counterfeit medicine. It could be that it is entering from the outside, not necessarily produced in the country. So, we need to investigate that,” he said.

Pascual, however,  said  that if there are counterfeit medicines for a particular brand, the manufacturer of the said brand would be taking action.

If there is no complainant, he said a motu proprio investigation can be conducted.

He said the DTI would coordinate with the IPOPHL on the probe. “It is ruining our image. So this needs to be investigated,” he said.

In the Special 301 report released last week, US Trade Representative (USTR) cited China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan,  Vietnam and the Philippines as the leading sources of counterfeit medicines distributed globally. The report was based on a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and European Union Intellectual Property Office.

IPOPHL director general Rowel Barba told reporters the Philippines is probably being used as a transshipment point for counterfeit medicines.

As the concern has been raised repeatedly by the USTR, he said the IPOPHL has been coordinating with the Food and Drug Administration which reported that no counterfeit medicines are being manufactured in the country.

He said the IPOPHL would work with the PHAP, an organization of  providers of quality and life-saving medicines in the country, to get information if fake medicines are being manufactured in the country.

“So, hopefully, we can remove that concern,” he said.

Earlier this month, the IPOPHL announced it teamed up with the PHAP for an anti-counterfeiting drive and to promote healthcare innovations.