FDA to certify contraceptives’ safety, efficacy

MANILA, Philippines -  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to comply with an order of the Supreme Court (SC) to certify whether or not contraceptives in the country are safe, efficacious and not abortifacient.

According to Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial, the Department of Health (DOH) is meeting with the FDA and other concerned sectors on how it could comply with the SC order. 

“After we put in place the quasi-judicial function of FDA, we can actually start recertification of  family planning commodities and for the implants, they can be used again after public hearing and consultation,” she said in an ambush interview.

Last week, the SC issued a resolution clarifying that only Implanon and Implanon NXT subdermal implants are covered by the temporary restraining order it issued 18 months ago. The tribunal rejected a petition to reverse the stay order but instead gave the FDA 60 days to issue the certification.