MANILA – The Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) will be helping the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in going after unregistered sellers of the anti-parasite drug known as Ivermectin.
CIDG chief Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro made this remark following reports on the presence of Ivermectin in the market and its alleged use to cure Covid-19 contrary to its FDA-approved use which is for animals only.
All current Ivermectin products registered in the country are for veterinary use and are only allowed for the treatment of internal and external parasites as well as prevention of heartworm disease in animals hence the issuance of FDA Advisory No. 2021-0526. The FDA is currently processing an application filed on March 31 for product registration from concerned parties.
Ferro said the FDA, through its released advisories and press statement on the purchase and use of said drug, requested the local government units (LGUs) and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to ensure that Ivermectin will not be sold or used in their respective areas of responsibilities.
In response to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive on March 24 and in coordination with the FDA, Ferro said the CIDG has taken appropriate action by directing its operating and field units to implement measures to monitor the dispense and use of Ivermectin across the country and to conduct investigation and intensified police operations against any violations of Republic Act 9711 (the FDA Act of 2009) and of the FDA's Compassionate Special Permit (CSP).
Ferro said the CIDG will go after those who will violate the RA 9711 provisions “specifically on fake, unregistered/unlicensed, and no permit on the sales and distribution of the said drugs.”
“We strongly advise the public to seek professional help and opinion before using the said drug and buy only from authorized sources. We also encourage them to report any illegal dispense and use of the said medicine,” Ferro said in a statement on Saturday.
Last Thursday, FDA Director General Eric Domingo clarified that the distribution of Ivermectin remains illegal even though the medicine was granted a compassionate special permit.
Domingo said the hospital which applied for and was granted the compassionate permit for the use of Ivermectin would be allowed to import it via a licensed importer.
At the Laging Handa briefing, Domingo said Ivermectin is an “investigational product” and clinical trials on its use to prevent Covid-19 are ongoing.
He said the FDA has received an application for a certificate for product registration of the drug which has been promoted by some lawmakers as a Covid-19 treatment.
The Department of Health earlier warned that the distribution and promotion of Ivermectin as a treatment for coronavirus in humans is a violation of the law. (PNA)
