Tell it to SunStar: Appeal to the public to practice social distancing and avoid misbehavior in pharmacies

IN THIS pandemic, the public is reminded to practice “social distancing” (now referred to as "physical distancing" by the World Health Organization) especially in public areas. But, no matter how often we have been advised, it can be challenging to instantaneously change our habits, and such advice can be intense and confusing to many. In pharmacies, the distance of at least one meter is not being followed. Some people tend to be very demanding to get their medicines quickly even at the expense
Philstar.com •

COMMENTARY: Community pharmacists can help curb COVID-19 spread

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has declared the COVID-19 outbreak in the country a nationwide state of public health emergency following an increased number of cases, two of whom have been identified as local transmissions. Because of their accessibility to the general public, pharmacies serve as the first point of contact for medical servies. This gives community pharmacists critical roles not only in answering health-related inquiries and addressing false and misleading infor
The Manila Times •

Why Christmas in the Philippines is beyond ordinary –

When it comes to the red and green season, there’s no other country in the world that celebrates it longer and probably merrier than our country, the Philippines. The season kicks off on September 1, or the beginning of what we call “Ber” months, and extends until Three Kings Day in January. Christmas songs, especially the local classics, start playing on the radio, in commercial establishments — basically everywhere — complimented by gigantic colorful lanterns in celestial spectacle, springing
Daily Guardian •

Everyone’s critical role in fighting antibiotic decline

The World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is celebrated this year from November 18th to 24th. It aims to increase awareness of global “Antimicrobial Resistance” (AMR). AMR is a worldwide health problem and a threat to the efficacy of antimicrobial drugs. This phenomenon occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites change and no longer respond to medicines, making common infections harder to treat and thus increase the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. People often c
Daily Guardian •

How to spot fake medicines during COVID-19

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic sparked the rush of counterfeit or fake medicines, especially those over-the-counter (OTC). OTC medicines are those sold without prescription or “reseta” and are used by the general public for common conditions like pain and fever. As COVID-19 cases continue globally, so are the counterfeiters who are taking advantage of the growing demands in the market. The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be celebrating the National Consciousness W
INQUIRER.net •

Avoid drugs that contain aspirin when sick with dengue

It’s the rainy season here in the Philippines. Mosquito bites are everywhere! Dengue fever, and the more severe form, dengue hemorrhagic fever, are caused by a virus of the Flaviviridae family. The disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito called Aedes aegypti and other species such as Aedes albopictus. It is common in tropical countries like the Philippines, and has become one of the fastest-growing mosquito-borne diseases in the world. The most common symptom of dengu
Daily Guardian •

Avoid these drugs when you have dengue

It’s raining here in the Philippines. Dengue is probably lurking around! Dengue is a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito called Aedes aegypti and other species such as Aedes albopictus. It is common in tropical countries like the Philippines, and has become one of the fastest growing mosquito-borne diseases in the world. The most common symptom of dengue is fever that can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, rash, and pains－typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or
Daily Guardian •

Chinese supplement Lianhua Qingwen: What you need to know

Lianhua Qingwen (LHQW), a Chinese supplement approved by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for mild Covid-19 symptoms, continues to gain popularity and controversy. A Chinese research claims that it has been used for viral infections for more than a decade, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2002–2003. The Chinese researchers also claim that LHQW is a classical Chinese medical preparation and that its capsules or granules are consist of 11 herbs, gypsum, and
INQUIRER.net •

Rush for COVID-19 vaccine shouldn’t be a sociopolitical risk

The Russian vaccine Sputnik V by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology recently made global headlines as the world’s so-called first COVID-19 vaccine, drawing outrage from the scientific community over its safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) has responded that it has not received enough information on Sputnik V and that if Russia wants the WHO’s stamp of approval, it must submit a rigorous review of the vaccine’s safety data. Typically, a vaccine requires 10
Daily Guardian •

[OPINION] Women should not be underrepresented in vaccine clinical trials

Differences in gender can often lead to different responses to the same drug or vaccine. Even though both genders are given the same dosage, in most cases, females experience worse adverse effects than males do, such as drowsiness, depression, and heart anomalies. A good example of this is Zolpidem (Ambien) that is used to treat insomnia. Reports suggest that this drug stays longer in the blood of women. It was found out that blood levels of this drug were 25–33% higher in women than in men. Hi
The Manila Times •

Sputnik V: Boon or bane? –

Remember when the phase 3 clinical trial of Dengvaxia vaccine was supposed to end in 2017 and yet was already used to vaccinate children in select areas in the Philippines in 2016? Phase 3, the last and final stage of clinical trials prior to licensing approval, was not completed. This now discontinued national immunization program has sparked public concern with reports of partial effectiveness and danger to public safety. The Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, by the Gamaleya Research Institute, rec
INQUIRER.net •

Fake medicines on the rise: how to identify them

The COVID-19 crisis has fueled the surge of not only fake face masks and other medical products related to the pandemic, but also counterfeit medicines, especially those over-the-counter (OTC) or sold without prescription. As COVID-19 cases continue to increase globally, so are the counterfeiters who are exploiting the growing gaps in the market. Recently, the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an advisory against the purchase and use of counterfeit drugs. A counterfeit dru
Mindanao Times •

From the Readers | Turning 30: Life lessons from my 20s and COVID-19 Pandemic

In a few hours, I am about to enter the third decade of my life. The second decade, however, is perhaps a depiction of this undying paradoxical passage from “A Tale of Two Cities” by Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” In this o
Mindanao Times •

Letter to the Editor | Rise of birth control products in pharmacies

When the Philippines began its Metro Manila-wide community quarantine in the middle of March, various jokes on possible increase of population in the next nine months had dominated the social media. For many pharmacists, this speculation may be regarded as a reality. On the face of it, there has been an increased demand for birth control products in pharmacies. Sure these are blockbuster products and their market has a strong pipeline base, but their sales flourished further while we are all pu
Daily Tribune •

Practice social distancing, avoid misbehavior | Commentary

In this COVID-19 pandemic, the public is constantly reminded to practice “social distancing” (now referred to as “physical distancing” by the World Health Organization), especially in public areas. However, no matter how often we have been advised, it can be challenging to instantaneously change our habits, and such advice can be intense and confusing to many. Apparently, while it is not always the case, when you visit some pharmacies, the distance of at least one meter is not being followed, a
Daily Guardian •

Face mask and abaca on COVID-19 pandemic

Abaca, the strongest among all natural fibers, is native to the Philippines. Commonly known as Manila hemp and scientifically known as Musa textilis, this plant is a close relative of banana. It is not only used in the fashion industry and in making water-resistant ropes and twine for ships but also for the production of medical fabrics for face masks and medical gowns－vital Pharmacy supplies that are lacking across the globe to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, abaca is also used to man
INQUIRER.net •

Politicians’ dangerous distribution of inappropriate medicines

While our politicians and various organizations are keen to distribute relief goods and services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there are unforeseen potential dangers that could further risk public health. One of these is the distribution of inappropriate pharmacy products, including antibiotics and counterfeit hand sanitizers. Some political individuals and groups have included antibiotics (especially amoxicillin) in their relief packages. As the World Health Organization has emphasized, antibiot
The Manila Times •

How community pharmacists save lives during Covid-19 outbreak –

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to cross borders and spark global fear, scientists and pharmaceutical firms race to develop treatments and vaccines at unprecedented speed. Recently, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NiAid), part of the National Institutes of Health of the United States, has sponsored the first clinical trial in the country to evaluate an experimental treatment for Covid-19 using the antiviral remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences.
When In Manila •

Medical Marijuana: Boon or Bane?

It was only on December 2018 when the new Ms. Universe, Catriona Gray, was asked during the pageant regarding her stand on the legalization of marijuana. As a pharmacist-educator, I share the same view that it should only be used for medical purposes. Recently, the House of Representatives granted the medical marijuana bill a step forward to becoming a law despite the current administration’s bloody war on drugs. Once passed into law, the bill shall be known as the “Philippine Compassionate Med
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