Duque tells doctors: Stop selling medicine to patients
HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III told doctors to stop selling medicines to their patients saying this is not part of their profession.
“Dapat itigil na natin ito,” Duque said during a public hearing on the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008 held at the Star Plaza Hotel in Dagupan City Thursday.
The DOH is expected to issue the final set IRR of the law, principally sponsored by Senators Mar Roxas and Pia Cayetano, this year.
Duque said he will review the laws and the doctors’ code against the practice and initiate a campaign to promote these.
There have been complaints against doctors prescribing medicines that are only available from their personal stock.
Meanwhile, Dr. Leo Douglas Cardona, regional director of the Philippine Health Insurance based in Dagupan, pointed out during the same forum that the practice of doctors selling medicines, which started in the 1950s when there was a scarcity of pharmacies in the country, is now passe’.
The practice must be stopped, Cardona echoed.
At the same time, he reminded pharmacists against suggesting medication to their customers.
“It is not your job to prescribe medicines,” Cardona said. #
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