Senator Nancy Binay, who has detailed her cyberbullying experiences over her dark skin in her book “Charcoal Confessions,” on Thursday sought a probe into the deaths related to the illegal use of intravenous glutathione—which fans of skin whitening swear by.
Binay filed Senate Resolution No. 952 weeks after actress Mariel Rodriquez—wife of Senator Robin Padilla—was bashed online for posting on Instagram account that she had an IV drip session inside the Senate office of her husband.
Rodriguez eventually clarified it was not an IV glutathione drip but a Vitamin C drip.
In her resolution, Binay cited the statement of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa that IV glutathione should only be administered in hospitals.
“Injectable glutathione is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) Philippines as an adjunct treatment in cisplatin chemotherapy. The FDA has not approved any injectable products for skin lightening,” the DOH said.
The department said there were no published clinical trials that have evaluated the use of injectable glutathione for skin lightening.
“It is necessary that the government continuously implement measures to prevent unauthorized use of IV glutathione and remind the public to: (1) consult only board-certified dermatologists; (2) avoid buying intravenous or injectable products online; and (3) avoid being lured to a promising effect of medicines as beauty products,” said Binay in her resolution.