BAGUIO CITY — The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Cordillera reminded the public that only licensed drug stores are authorized to sell medicines.

FDA Cordillera Regional Supervisor Saturnina Pandosen stressed that sari-sari stores are prohibited from selling pharmaceuticals. She urged local government units (LGUs), particularly barangays, to strictly monitor stores in their jurisdictions to prevent the illegal sale of over-the-counter medicines. She emphasized that this measure aims to safeguard public health by ensuring people purchase medicines only from licensed establishments.

According to Pandosen, the directive aligns with an earlier memorandum issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which informed all LGUs and barangays that existing laws prohibit sari-sari stores from selling medicines. The supervisor also called on the public to report any sari-sari stores selling medicines to the concerned authorities for appropriate action.

Pandosen stressed that the public should avoid buying over-the-counter or prescription medicines from unauthorized sources. She explained that medicines purchased from unlicensed vendors may be counterfeit or substandard, which could severely harm a user’s health rather than provide a curative effect.

The FDA is intensifying its information and education campaigns ahead of the National Consciousness Week Against Counterfeit Medicines in the third week of November. These efforts aim to equip the public with knowledge on how to detect counterfeit or substandard products.

Pandosen also warned that the online sale of medicines is unauthorized. She advised the public to be cautious of medicines offered on social media platforms, noting that the safest way to ensure the purchase of legitimate and safe medicines is to buy them from licensed drug stores.