DOH warns versus medical gadgets

Alarmed about the proliferation of “alternative” medical products that have dubious therapeutic claims, the Department of Health (DOH) has issued a warning against the use of these gadgets.

In an advisory, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said the public should “avoid (the) use of new devices/technologies that claim to cure almost all human diseases.”

“The DOH strongly advises the public to beware of devices and/or technologies offering free trials, especially if the company requires the person to waive the liability of the company in case anything harmful happens to the person who uses the device,” he said.

Duque urged the public to ensure that only licensed and appropriately trained physicians are supervising the use of these gadgets.

“The public is advised to check whether (they have) been evaluated and declared safe and effective by the Bureau of Health Devices and Technology (BHDT) of the DOH,” he added.

According to BHDT director Agnette Peralta, the public should be wary of devices with made-up healing claims because they could be harmful to their health.

“It’s not only that. They may only be wasting their hard-earned money so we advise the public to thoroughly scrutinize the products that they buy. They have to make sure that the products are properly registered,” Peralta said.  – Sheila Crisostomo