Pangasinan docs demand public apology from DOH official

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Doctors of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital (PPH) based in San Carlos City are demanding a public apology from a regional Department of Health (DOH) official who earlier had alleged that "government physicians in Pangasinan and practically regionwide" are themselves promoting counterfeit medicines.

Dr. Rey Jacinto, chief of the DOH Standards and Regulation Division and who is also in charge of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) office in San Fernando City, was invited to attend the question hour of the provincial board last Friday.

Fifth district board member Dionisio Villar Jr. wanted Jacinto to clarify his pronouncements, but the latter had informed board secretary Verna Nava-Perez that he could not attend the question hour supposedly because he had no travel order from DOH regional director Dr. Eduardo Janairo.

Fourth district board member John Agerico Rosario dismissed Jacinto’s alibi as a "very flimsy excuse."

In his speech, Villar, who heads the board’s committee on health, described as "very sweeping" Jacinto’s claim that his campaign to rid the Ilocos region of counterfeit drugs has not been succeeding because government doctors themselves have been promoting counterfeit drugs.

Villar added that Jacinto virtually "made all doctors in government hospitals suspects."

He said he immediately talked to Jacinto after The STAR had sought his comments on the matter.

"I was very much concerned because we do not condone such an illegal activity, if there is truth to it. We even want to help him in his campaign… Let us punish the guilty but please let us spare the innocent ones," Villar said.

"Remember, it takes several years to establish a good reputation and no one in his right mind, would allow that to be destroyed in an instant," he added.

In their phone conversation, Villar said Jacinto "admitted" issuing such statements.

During the question hour, Villar was supposed to openly challenge Jacinto to name names but this did not materialize due to the DOH official’s no-show.

Instead, chiefs of hospitals, who were present during the session, were asked to comment on Jacinto’s pronouncements.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, chief of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, said he and his staff came in full force to the session "to listen and stand as witness (to) Jacinto’s declaration and we would like to ask him to name names."

Soriano said he wanted to help Jacinto in his campaign against counterfeit drugs but had to protect those not involved in this illegal practice.

"I could say none of my doctors are involved (in this activity)," he said.

He said he believes that no less than the Pangasinan Medical Society was already studying the matter and would take proper action.

Meanwhile, Dr. Jesus Canto, director of the national government-run Region 1 Medical Center in Dagupan City, said, "I vehemently deny this reckless accusation of Dr. Jacinto."

When he assumed his post in 2003, Canto said he issued several memoranda on counterfeit drugs and instructed his doctors to prescribe only medicines available at the hospital’s pharmacy to help patients save on cost.

"Even before his (Jacinto’s) campaign, the R1MC has taken note of this and we will never tolerate such an activity," he said.

Canto said all medicines sold in the hospital’s pharmacy come from reputable and DOH-accredited pharmaceutical companies.

Both the PPH and the R1MC are among the government hospitals where, according to Jacinto, counterfeit drugs allegedly proliferate.

For his part, Clemente Pioquinto, general services officer of the provincial government who takes charge of purchasing medicines distributed to provincial government-owned hospitals, said, "There is a remote possibility that we purchase counterfeit drugs because we publish our biddings and our bidders come from reputable companies."

Sought for comment about what transpired in the provincial board’s session, Jacinto, however, told The STAR that he would not issue any public apology.

In text messages to The STAR yesterday, Jacinto reiterated that physicians in both the government and private practice are flagrantly violating the Generics Law.

"As provided under the Generics Law, physicians should only prescribe medications to their patients (who have the) freedom to choose where to buy the medicines. I maintain my previous statement (that) physicians, both in government and private (practice), are promoters of counterfeit drugs," he said.

He said some medicines purchased by the national and local governments find their way to private medical clinics, lying-ins, dispensaries and private drug stores.

Pressed why he did not attend the board’s question hour, Jacinto said he and his fellow officials have a pending order from their superior that they have to secure a travel order every time they attend official functions.

He said the board should have addressed its invitation to him to Janairo instead who, in turn, would issue the travel order.

Villar said he would invite Jacinto again, but this time he would course the letter through Janairo or even Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.