MANILA, Philippines?Foreida Apolinario, who says she is a Law student at the Ateneo de Manila University, has expressed concern ?regarding expiry dates of over-the-counter drugs.?

Apolinario said she recently went in search of a headache remedy and found several suitable products in her home. The problem, however, was ?I had no idea whether or not these medicines were still good.? The expiry date was not written on any of the items.

Apolinario?s next point is very valid given the Filipino consumer?s buying habits.

?Here in the Philippines, many of these types of pills can be easily purchased by piece from our drugstores and even sari-sari stores. However, consumers have no way of double-checking the expiry date because most of these drugs that come in banig only have the expiry information embossed on the side of the [main] packaging. Therefore, we consumers would not really know whether the medicine we purchased has expired or not.?

I have mentioned this problem months ago. As in most developing countries, ordinary Filipinos find it more practical to buy tingi. Their budget would only go so far, so they will not buy many things until and unless they need them. And they rarely buy things in bulk.

That is why many people stand in line everyday to buy rice. They have only enough for what they need that day, at that moment, so the neighborhood sari-sari store is a necessity.

In many households, people do not buy cooking oil and vinegar and garlic and salt and many other things in bottles or jars, kilos or bunches. When they need these cooking essentials, they would send a child, or they themselves would go, to the nearest sari-sari store and buy a cup of vinegar or cooking oil or a head of garlic.

And when they have a headache or a stomachache or muscle pains, the sari-sari store doubles as a mini drugstore where they can get whatever medicine they want to take for their various aches and pains.

Since over-the-counter drugs are occasional purchases, the sari-sari store will not keep them in bulk and may just buy a few pieces, considering the purchasing habits of the neighborhood.

Given the way these drugs are currently packaged, the sari-sari store owner himself/herself will have no idea if the medicines are past their expiration dates.

Like me, Apolinario wants expiration information written on the package of every tablet or capsule so that, whether consumers get their medicines from a drugstore or a sari-sari store, they will not risk buying expired medicine just because they can only afford to buy tingi.

Grateful to DTI

Reader Blesilda C. de Guzman wants to thank the Legal Affairs Center of the Department of Trade and Industry National Capital Region for helping resolve her problems with her Hyundai car.

The office referred her e-mail to the company?s management, which promptly got in touch with De Guzman. Seller and buyer have come to an amicable settlement of the problem.

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