CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Some generic drugs, particularly those supposed to fight high blood pressure, have been reported by some patients here as ineffective.
A government doctor who asked not to be named said he has been noting growing complaints from patients saying that generic anti-high blood tablets they receive from the government have not been of help against upsurge in their blood pressures.
“They suspect generic medications are fake. What’s noteworthy is that they also reported lowering of their blood pressure upon intake of branded counterparts,” the source also said.
But Melinda Hilario of the regional office of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) said that all generic drugs, whether imported or locally manufactured undergo a battery of tests at her agency’s laboratory in Alabang, Metro Manila before they are marked as registered.
“All drugs are supposed to be registered with BFAD before they can be sold in the country. They have to undergo a battery of tests to evaluate their ingredients before they are registered,” she said.
Provincial health officer Dr. Ernesto Santos said, however, the provincial office has not encountered any problem with generic drugs. He noted, however, that problems could arise in the distribution process of such drugs.
“Generic drugs are as effective as branded drugs, minus the advertising cost,” Santos said.
Hilario said the BFAD regional office has not yet received any reports on ineffective generic drugs, as she urged health officers of San Fernando to send samples of the allegedly defective medications to her office so that they could be tested at the BFAD laboratory.
She noted, though, that suppliers are supposed to have license to operated issued by BFAD before they could distribute generic drugs registered with BFAD.
A government doctor who asked not to be named said he has been noting growing complaints from patients saying that generic anti-high blood tablets they receive from the government have not been of help against upsurge in their blood pressures.
“They suspect generic medications are fake. What’s noteworthy is that they also reported lowering of their blood pressure upon intake of branded counterparts,” the source also said.
But Melinda Hilario of the regional office of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) said that all generic drugs, whether imported or locally manufactured undergo a battery of tests at her agency’s laboratory in Alabang, Metro Manila before they are marked as registered.
“All drugs are supposed to be registered with BFAD before they can be sold in the country. They have to undergo a battery of tests to evaluate their ingredients before they are registered,” she said.
Provincial health officer Dr. Ernesto Santos said, however, the provincial office has not encountered any problem with generic drugs. He noted, however, that problems could arise in the distribution process of such drugs.
“Generic drugs are as effective as branded drugs, minus the advertising cost,” Santos said.
Hilario said the BFAD regional office has not yet received any reports on ineffective generic drugs, as she urged health officers of San Fernando to send samples of the allegedly defective medications to her office so that they could be tested at the BFAD laboratory.
She noted, though, that suppliers are supposed to have license to operated issued by BFAD before they could distribute generic drugs registered with BFAD.
