Gov't to phase out asthma inhalers containing freon

The government will phase out the metered-dose inhaler (MDI), a medical device used at home for emergency treatment of people suffering from asthma or other pulmonary diseases.

The reason: This device, which is a pressurized canister with propellant, is a pharmaceutical preparation that contains chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), commonly known as freon, an ozone-depleting substance.

Dr. Quintin Kintanar, former director of Bureau of Food and Drugs and a consultant of the National CFC Phase-out Plan Project Management Unit, said the inhaler with the brand name Salbutamol will be phased out this year.

All other CFC-containing MDIs will be phased out by year 2010, as mandated by the country's commitment to the Montreal Protocol on Substance that Deplete the Ozone Layer, he said.

Kintanar said some drugstores already sell CFC-free MDIs, which buyers could identify through the green CFC/ODS-free logo on their brand labels.

Other MDIs for phase-in are breath-activated dry powder inhalers without propellant and pressurized MDIs using propellants that have no ozone-depleting potential, such as Norflurane or HFA 134a or HFA 227, he added.

The Department of Health through BFAD is implementing a gradual transition and strictly regulates the phase-out of the CFC-containing MDIs to CFC-free MDIs alternatives.

Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes said CFC has been deemed one of the causes of steady depletion of the Earth's ozone layer, which effectively harm also the environment and cause illnesses to man as a result.

Reyes said that the phase out plan of the government would still depend on the availability of feasible alternatives to this medical device, and it should have the same therapeutic effect while being safer to the environment. - Jasmin R. Uy/RAE