DOH adviser warns public vs fake health products

The Manila Times

DOH adviser warns public vs fake health products  Dr. Anthony "Tony" Leachon, the Department of Health’s special adviser for non-communicable diseases, called on all sectors to help apprehend individuals behind fraudulent online advertisements selling fake health products. He warned the public against the adverse effects that may be caused by the use of unlicensed products.  VIDEO AND INTERVIEW BY EZRAH RAYA  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net  Follow us: Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion  Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital  Check out our Podcasts: Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #TheManilaTimes #DailyNews #DOH #Fake #Medicine #Health #Products

Transcript

00:00 I'm Ezra Raya and this is the Manila Times.

00:03 Fake ads or false advertising

00:05 have been making its rounds online.

00:08 Fake ads uses the likeness or photos of celebrities

00:12 and other famous personalities without their permission

00:16 to promote often unverified

00:18 and unregistered health products.

00:21 A month ago, Senator Jingo Estrada called for an inquiry

00:25 on the alarming proliferation of fake online advertisements

00:29 promoting often fake and unlicensed products.

00:33 Here with us is one of the victims of these fake ads,

00:36 the newly appointed Department of Health Special Advisor

00:40 on Communicable Diseases

00:42 and Manila Doctors Hospital cardiologist, Dr. Tony Leachon.

00:47 Welcome to the Manila Times, sir.

00:49 Doc, just last week, August 18th,

00:51 you have formally lodged a complaint

00:53 against these fake advertisements.

00:56 These brands that use your identity

00:58 without your permission are called Glufarylin

01:01 and Grand Sure Gold.

01:03 So for those who are watching,

01:05 these are fake and unregistered based on several reports.

01:09 It's not just you,

01:10 other public health personalities like Willie Ong

01:13 and even DOH Undersecretary, Dr. Eric Tayag

01:16 were victims of these fake ads

01:18 because their likeness were being used

01:20 without their permission.

01:21 So sir, tell us about the recent case you just filed.

01:26 - It is not only those two products,

01:29 Glufarylin and Grand Sure.

01:31 There are also other products like Dianorm,

01:37 supposedly for diabetes, joint love for arthritis,

01:44 and of course, certain negative news to assault medications

01:49 that we have been using for many years,

01:55 which are actually registered with the FDA and approved.

01:59 And of course, distributed by the Department of Health.

02:02 So this case has been going on for the last three years.

02:07 And it started with my complaint

02:11 with then the very good Secretary, Menardo Guevara.

02:15 So the biggest break, the breakthrough,

02:18 was actually the mandate of current health secretary,

02:24 Ted Erbosa, about a month ago,

02:28 when he asked the FDA director, Samuel Sakate,

02:34 to coordinate with the NBI to investigate

02:40 and then file cases against these unscrupulous individuals.

02:45 So I received a letter last week

02:49 from the NBI director, Director Delemos,

02:53 requesting me to report at the NBI Cybercrime Unit

02:58 at Araneta Avenue, corner Maria Clara,

03:02 last Friday, 1 p.m.

03:05 And I consulted my lawyer, attorney John Paul Nabwa,

03:10 that we would file a case, considering the following.

03:17 One, there must be closure and we should nip it in the bud.

03:22 Number two, according to the NBI,

03:25 they could not arrest this particular individuals

03:29 or group of individuals

03:31 if there will be no formal complaint.

03:34 Number three, it will erode my credibility and integrity

03:39 because those medications in my patients

03:44 cause already adverse events,

03:47 like they would stop the medication

03:50 and then like a patient with diabetes.

03:53 And then this patient was dialyzed

03:57 and some patients developed liver failure

04:00 and other adverse event.

04:02 - Oh, sir, let me ask you,

04:04 are you saying that there were individuals

04:07 who actually purchased these unregistered products

04:10 based on your fake online advertisements

04:13 and had adverse effects?

04:15 So there are victims of these unregistered products?

04:20 - (speaking in foreign language)

04:24 - And most of these victims are your patients

04:28 because they know you personally?

04:29 - My patients and not even my patients.

04:32 And across all ages, across all social classes,

04:37 (speaking in foreign language)

04:41 whether this would be true or not.

04:45 And even mercury, high-ranking mercury,

04:49 a officer called me up whether to do it.

04:53 (speaking in foreign language)

04:57 And then the FDI director also called me up

05:07 to confirm these products are unregistered.

05:12 So I'm here at my explain

05:16 (speaking in foreign language)

05:20 It's actually anchored on health promotion and prevention.

05:23 And it's basically on education.

05:26 But if the information is actually fake

05:30 or the public are misinformed and disinformed,

05:35 what would happen, of course, to your advocacy?

05:40 (speaking in foreign language)

05:44 - (speaking in foreign language)

05:48 - (speaking in foreign language)

05:52 - Adverse effects.

05:53 (speaking in foreign language)

05:57 It has been going on for something like three years.

06:18 And every day, (speaking in foreign language)

06:23 But what really struck me last week

06:28 were actually three patients.

06:31 The first patient, (speaking in foreign language)

06:36 even after an 82-year-old female stopped medication

06:41 and was dialyzed.

06:42 And I could not inform you because of a data privacy act.

06:48 Number two, one developed high liver enzymes,

06:51 SGPTSGOT, developed toxic liver.

06:55 The other one with Sabine's skin allergies.

06:58 The other one was a poor patient whose expenses

07:03 (speaking in foreign language)

07:17 And the worst product is the drug that does not work.

07:21 (speaking in foreign language)

07:25 Red flags as well as provisions on how to identify this

07:46 and of course apprehend these unscrupulous individuals

07:49 preying on ignorant as well as educated patients

07:54 and higher authorities.

07:56 - Sir, (speaking in foreign language)

08:01 It's not just using your likeness without your permission,

08:05 but it's also selling those products

08:08 which has adverse side effects to real patients themselves

08:12 and using the little money they have on those fake medicines.

08:17 So sir, you mentioned going back (speaking in foreign language)

08:20 that you lodged a formal complaint.

08:22 May I ask to whom was this complaint addressed to?

08:26 (speaking in foreign language)

08:30 These owners of fake brands of fake medicines

08:35 often are distributed by companies that are not registered.

08:41 (speaking in foreign language)

08:44 Did you know that (speaking in foreign language)

08:47 company or people responsible behind Blue Farrellin

08:51 and Grand Shored Gold and other fake online ads

08:56 about fake medicines?

08:58 (speaking in foreign language)

09:03 - They could not divulge it.

09:06 (speaking in foreign language)

09:10 (speaking in foreign language)

09:14 (speaking in foreign language)

09:17 (speaking in foreign language)

09:21 (speaking in foreign language)

09:25 (speaking in foreign language)

09:31 (speaking in foreign language)

09:36 (speaking in foreign language)

09:42 - They need a complaint or else (speaking in foreign language)

09:49 That's the biggest factor there.

09:52 So somebody has to complain

09:54 or else you will perpetuate this particular practice.

09:57 And they don't want to stay a hornet's nest

10:01 who I identify (speaking in foreign language)

10:03 but they need a formal complaint for someone

10:06 not the (speaking in foreign language)

10:08 And I see the urgency of this particular request

10:12 coming from an authority.

10:14 (speaking in foreign language)

10:16 - FDA legislation, DTI, I'm concerned.

10:20 Actually the whole of government.

10:21 (speaking in foreign language)

10:25 As I speak with you, (speaking in foreign language)

10:34 (speaking in foreign language)

10:38 (speaking in foreign language)

10:42 (speaking in foreign language)

10:46 (speaking in foreign language)

10:50 (speaking in foreign language)

10:54 It's a difficult decision because of certain risks

11:05 but without taking the courage,

11:08 I don't think (speaking in foreign language)

11:13 - Sir, what do you think the government should do

11:16 or the FDA do to prevent or discourage the circulation

11:20 of unverified health products,

11:22 these fake ads selling fake medicines

11:26 or fake health products?

11:28 - Okay, the first big thing that the DOH

11:31 and the FDA should do is actually to release

11:34 a press statement regarding this unregistered product.

11:39 (speaking in foreign language)

11:44 Nationwide through the agencies.

11:46 And then it will be distributed to the pharmacies.

11:51 And then it will be distributed to the online.

11:54 (speaking in foreign language)

11:59 That they should not deliver this.

12:01 (speaking in foreign language)

12:05 The other thing that (speaking in foreign language)

12:07 the pharmacy law should apply.

12:09 (speaking in foreign language)

12:13 How can you prescribe a medication

12:19 without the presence of a doctor?

12:21 (speaking in foreign language)

12:25 Laboratories.

12:26 (speaking in foreign language)

12:31 - Sir, in addition to that,

12:45 (speaking in foreign language)

12:48 What is your advice to the public

12:49 in order to avoid falling for these fake ads

12:53 or fake advertisements of fake medicines

12:56 and health products?

12:57 (speaking in foreign language)

13:02 (speaking in foreign language)

13:06 - I'm a doctor.

13:07 (speaking in foreign language)

13:11 (speaking in foreign language)

13:15 (speaking in foreign language)

13:18 But I know the doctors (speaking in foreign language)

13:31 and even the numbers of their secretaries.

13:36 (speaking in foreign language)

13:37 All they need to do,

13:38 (speaking in foreign language)

13:42 is consult your doctor first.

13:45 (speaking in foreign language)

13:49 (speaking in foreign language)

13:53 Verifies FDA.

13:55 (speaking in foreign language)

13:59 But I'm sure (speaking in foreign language)

14:05 So you can also do that or email them.

14:14 (speaking in foreign language)

14:18 (speaking in foreign language)

14:22 And I think this has to stop.

14:27 - Sir, from what important,

14:31 some of the important points from what you said,

14:33 so there should be a whole of government approach

14:36 in dealing with this fake online advertisement

14:39 selling fake medicines.

14:40 So there should be a press release statement

14:43 identifying these fake medicines.

14:46 And you also mentioned media literacy.

14:49 So questioning the source of the things that we see online.

14:52 And of course, for the public,

14:55 (speaking in foreign language)

14:56 or consult their doctor before taking any medication

15:00 or even supplements.

15:02 (speaking in foreign language)

15:04 Dr. Tony Ilea-Chon, DOH Special Advisor

15:08 on Communicable Diseases.

15:10 (speaking in foreign language)

15:12 - (speaking in foreign language) Thank you.

15:14 (silence)

15:16 (mouse clicking)

15:23 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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