Health officials: Recalled US medicines not made, sold in RP

Philippine health authorities allayed fears that some pharmaceutical products recalled in the United States may have found their way to the country. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the batches of products that were included in a voluntary recall are not being manufactured or imported in the Philippines. "In the interest of protecting public health and safety, the public is hereby advised that records of this Office show that none of those affected batches of the products are being brought into the country," FDA director Nazarita Tacandong said in a May 4 advisory. The advisory has been posted on the FDA website since Wednesday. Citing FDA records, Tacandong added the registered counterpart pharmaceuticals available in the Philippines are manufactured either locally or outside the US. She added the respective licensed importer-distributors and marketing authorization holders of the counterpart products registered with her office confirmed they have not imported or marketed any of the recalled products in the Philippines. But Tacandong advised those who may have brought such products into the country for personal use to stop using the products. "Anyone who may have individually brought into the country the affected products for personal use are advise(d) to discontinue using the same," she said. Tacandong was referring to the voluntary recall of pharmaceutical products in the US by McNeil Consumer Healthcare included Tylenol, Motrin, Zyrtec and Benadryl. She said the recall stemmed from manufacturing deficiencies that may affect the quality or potency of the products. "Reports have it that the affected products involve liquid preparations intended for infant(s) and children. These products were manufactured in the US and distributed in the US, Canada, Dominican Republic, Dubai, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Kuwait," she said. — RSJ/LBG, GMANews.TV