A different kind of scare has hit the Davao region. The Department of Health again raised the alarm that fake medicines are flooding the market. A similar warning was issued in August this year.

Most of the fake medicines are fast-selling multivitamins and antibiotics, according to Gil Cawad, consumer arbitration officer of the regional health office. Cawad advised the public to purchase drugs and medicines only from licensed drug outlets.

But how does one spot fake medicine? Cawad admitted it is extremely difficult to spot a counterfeit drug by mere ocular inspection, saying the suspected fake drug must undergo chemical analysis.

And how reliable are licensed drug outlets? Cawad said they had already raided drug outlets suspected to be selling counterfeit drugs. Among those discovered to sell fake medicines is a large drugstore chain that he refused to identify.

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Matters are apparently worse in the neighboring SOCSARGEN Region (South Cotabato-Sarangani-General Santos.)

The government-run General Santos City Hospital is buying and dispensing fake medicines, according to the General Santos Medical Society. On top of that, the hospital is also purchasing drug supplies with as much as 300 percent overprice.

In a statement furnished to the media last week, the group called for “a total revamp of the procurement system of basic drugs and medical supplies” of the government hospital, following reports that “counterfeit medicines” were being supplied to and used by the hospital.

All eight government doctors of the General Santos City Hospital have submitted their resignation, after their complaint over the issue remained unheeded.

General Santos City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. assured early this week that he had instructed his city legal officer to file appropriate charges against the Davao-based supplier of the questioned drugs.

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One week into the observance of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, the Davao City government distributed bagsful of foodstuff to Muslim residents, who customarily fast from sunup to sundown and partake of solid food after 6 p.m. or thereabouts.

“They can concentrate on their prayers the whole day and food will be ready and available for them when the day’s fast is over,” explained Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. The city has given out over 100,000 bags of foodstuff since last week.

Davao is the only city in Mindanao with appointed deputy mayors for every major Muslim ethnic group.

(Editor’s note: For comments and reactions, e-mail: rene_bartolo@yahoo.com )