The DOH-Center for Health Development in Metro Manila launched the first-ever Smoke-free Reporting Package to provide venue for the general public to report tobacco violations in Metro Manila.   The Smoke-free Reporting Package consists of NOSI SMS, NOSI Report Line and NOSI Website. Using the NOSI SMS package, the general public can send in their reports by texting NOSI to 2256 which is open to Smart, Globe and Sun cellular Networks subscribers. The public can also report their complaints by dialling 661-3747 from 9:00am-5:00pm from Mondays to Fridays, or by visiting http://www.nosi.com.ph . read more

Press Release/ 29 June 2010 The Philippine Pharmacists Association (PPhA), the accredited national organization of pharmacists in the Philippines, expressed its support for the Department of Health’s (DOH) issuance of Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 2010-0008, which will require herbal food and dietary supplements manufacturers to translate the cautionary statement “No Approved Therapeutic Claims” into Filipino in all their advertising and promotional materials. The English phrase will be replaced by the statement, “Mahalagang Paalala: Ang (name of product) ay hindi gamot at hindi dapat gamiting panggamot sa anumang uri ng sakit”. “We believe that the move to modify and translate said phrase is appropriate for the reason that food/dietary supplements are really not supposed to be used for treatment or cure, simply because they are NOT DRUGS.”, the PPhA said in its statement. “The current use of the statement No Approved Therapeutic Claims used in promotion and advertisement of food supplements is not easily understood by the general public who have limited knowledge of the specific differences between drugs and food supplements, and as such has been used to the advantage of some business entities for marketing purposes.”, the statement added. read more

Press Release/17 June 2010 The health group, Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) criticized the tobacco company, Fortune Tobacco Corp. for questioning in court the recent order of the Department of Health to put pictures in cigarette and tobacco packages bearing information about these products.  “Expectedly, the tobacco industry tries to block the order of the DOH aimed at protecting the Filipino people against smoking-related diseases,” said Dr. Maricar Limpin, FCAP Executive Director.  Fortune Tobacco Corp. filed a petition for Declaratory Relief with application for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on June 3, 2010 regarding the DOH Administrative Order No. 13, Requiring Graphic Health Information on Tobacco Product Packages.  The petition, now being heard before the sala of Marikina Regional Trial Court Branch 272 by Hon. Justice Felix P. Reyes will hold its next hearing on June 21. The DOH issued the AO on May 24 imposing mandatory printing on cigarette packs of pictures and information depicting the real effects of cigarettes and the removal of all descriptors in cigarette products. Fortune filed the petition even before the AO is set to be implemented. read more