Parañaque City Rep. Joy Myra Tambunting is batting for the regulation of the proliferation of supplemental medicine and other related preparations in the market in a bid to protect the welfare of the consumers.
She filed House Bill No. 1038 to put in place adequate safeguards for the protection of consumers against aggressive and exaggerated therapeutic claims of unscrupulous manufacturers in their advertisement.
Most drug manufacturers of supplements and other dietary preparations bearing the “No Therapeutic Claim” on their packaging and promotion of their products have been capitalizing on the fine print and disclaimers, she said.
“Thus, unqualified substitution is allowed and the law cannot hold the physician responsible for adverse consequences,” Tambunting added.
The therapeutic decisions reached by physicians are based on a complex body of medical information relevant to a specific patient, she said.
“It is not denied that therapeutic failure or toxicity may result from improper substitution of a drug at the pharmacy counter,” Tambunting said in the bill’s explanatory part.
Supplemental medicine as defined under the bill covers supplemental medicines, dietary preparations, and other related supplements including herbal preparations.
The measure, if passed, would empower a consumer to file a civil suit against the person who has engaged or is engaging in prohibited acts stipulated in the bill, Tambunting said.