Johnson & Johnson Philippines and Janssen Changed Their Distributor To Apollo Plus

J & J group of companies once under Zuellig Pharma as their distributor had been transferred since 2010 to Apollo Plus Distributors Inc. So if you are planning to ordering products such as benadryl, sinutab, imodium and their other products the right distributor should be known.

K - Enema: A New Competitor of CB Fleet Enema

If you are looking for another enema that is affordable and has the same effect than that of Fleet Enema, try to procure K- Enema. It is the competitor of CB Fleet Enema that is cheaper than that of pioneering brand. K- Enema has the same content, use  and effect comparing to CB Fleet Enema.

K - Enema Packaging ( Fronts and Sides)

K - Enema contains monobasic sodium phosphate (19.2g) and dibasic sodium phosphate (7.2g) in a 120mL bottle. It is manufactured by Nabigasim Industries (Pvt) Ltd. for Surge Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd.

Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Excipients

Acidifying Agent

• Used in liquid preparations to provide acidic medium for product stability.
• Examples: acetic acid, citric acid, fumaric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid

Alkanizing Agent

• Used in liquid preparations to provide alkaline medium for product stability.
• Examples: ammonia solution, ammonium carbonate, diethanolamine, monoethanolamine, potassium hydroxide, sodium borate, sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, triethanolamine and trolamine

Adsorbent

• An agent capable of holding other molecules onto its surface by physical or chemical (chemisorption) means.
• Examples: powdered cellulose, activated charcoal

Aerosol Propellant

• An agent responsible for developing the pressure within an aerosol container and expelling the product when the valve is opened.
• Examples: carbon dioxide, dichlorodifluoromethane, dichlorotetrafluoroethan, trichloromonofluoromethan

Air Displacement

• An agent which is employed to displace air in a hermetically sealed container to enhance product stability.
• Examples: nitrogen

Antifungal Preservative

• Used in liquid and semi-solid preparations to prevent the growth of fungi. The effectiveness of the parabens is usually enhanced when they are used in combination.
• Examples: benzoic acid, butylparaben, ethylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, sodium benzoate, sodium propionate

Antimicrobial Preservative

• Used in liquid and semi-solid preparations to prevent the growth of microorganisms.
• Examples: benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium chloride, benzyl alcohol, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorobutanol, phenol, phenylethyl alcohol, phenylmercuric nitrate, thimerosal

Antioxidant

• An agent which inhibits oxidation and thus is used to prevent the deterioration of preparations by the oxidative process.
• Examples: ascorbic acid, ascorbyl palmitate, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, hypophosphorous acid, monothioglycerol, propyl gallate, sodium ascorbate, sodium bisulfite, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, sodium metabisulfite

Buffering Agent

• Used to resist change in pH upon dilution or addition of acid or alkali
• Examples: potassium metaphosphate, potassium phosphate monobasic, sodium acetate, sodium citrate anhydrous and dihydrate

Chelating Agent

• A substance that forms stable, water soluble complexes (chelates) with metals. Chelating agents are used in some liquid pharmaceuticals as stabilizers to complex heavy metals which might promote instability. In such use they are also called sequestering agents.
• Examples: edetate disodium, edetic acid

Colorant

• Used to impart color to liquid and solid (e.g., tablets and capsules) pharmaceutical preparations.
• Examples: FD&C Red No.3. FD&C Red No. 20, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blued No. 2, D&C Green No. 5, D&C Orange No. 5, D&C Red No. 8, caramel, ferric oxide (red)

Clarifying Agent

• Used as filtering aid because of adsorbent qualities.
• Examples: bentonite

Emulsifying Agent

• Used to promote and maintain the dispersion of finely subdivided particles of a liquid in a vehicle in which it is immiscible. The end product may be a liquid emulsion or semi-solid emulsion (e.g., a cream)
• Examples: acacia, cetomacrogol, cetyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, sorbitan monooleate, polyoxyethylene 50 stearate

Encapsulating Agent

• Used to form shells for the purpose of enclosing a drug substances or drug formulation for ease of administration.
• Examples: gelatin, cellulose acetate phthalate

Flavorant

• Used to impart a pleasant flavor and often odor to a pharmaceutical preparation. In addition to the natural flavorants listed, many synthetic flavorants are also used.
• Examples: anise oil, cinnamon oil, cocoa, menthol, orange oil, lemon oil, peppermint oil, vanillin

Humectant

• Used to prevent the drying out of preparations – particularly ointments and creams – due to the agent's ability to retain moisture.
• Examples: glycerin, propylene glycol, sorbitol

Levigating Agent

• A liquid used as an intervening agent to reduce the particle size of a drug powder by grinding together, usually in a mortar.
• Examples: mineral oil, glycerin

Ointment Base

• The semi-solid vehicle into which drug substances may be incorporated in preparing medicated ointments.
• Examples: lanolin, hydrophilic ointment, polyethylene glycol ointment, petrolatum, hydrophilic petrolatum, white ointment, yellow ointment, rose water ointment

Plasticizer

• Used as a component of film-coating solutions to enhance the spread of the coat over tablets, beads, and granules.
• Examples: diethyl phthalate, glycerin

Solvent

• An agent used to dissolve another pharmaceutic substance or a drug in the preparation of a solution. The solvent may be aqueous or nanaqueous (e.g., oleaginous). Cosolvents, such as water and alcohol (hydroalcoholic) and water and glycerin, may be used when needed. Solvents rendered sterile are used in certain preparations (e.g., injections).
• Examples: alcohol, corn oil, cottonseed oil, glycerin, isoproply alcohol, mineral oil, oleic acid, peanut oil, purified water, water for injection, sterile water for injection, sterile water for irrigation

Stiffening Agent

• Used to increase the thickness or hardness of a pharmaceutical preparation, usually an ointment.
• Examples: cetyl alcohol, cetyl esters wax, microcrystalline wax, paraffin, stearyl alcohol, white wax, yellow wax

Suppository Base

• Used as a vehicle into which drug substances are incorporated in the preparation of suppositories.
• Examples: cocoa butter, polyethylene glycols (mixture)

Surfactant (surface active agent)

• Substances which absorb to surfaces or interfaces to reduce surface or interfacial tension. May be used as wetting agents, detergents or emulsifying agents.
• Examples: benzalkonium chloride, nonoxynol 10, oxtoxynol 9, polysorbate 80, sodium lauryl sulfate, sorbitan monopalmitate

Suspending Agent

• A viscosity increasing agent used to reduce the rate of sedimentation of (drug) particles dispersed throughout a vehicle in which they are not soluble. The resultant suspensions may be formulated for use orally, parenterally, ophthalmically, topically, or by other routes.
• Examples: agar, bentonite, carbomer (e.g., Carbopol), carboxymethylcellulose sodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, kaolin, methycellulose, tragacanth, veegum

Sweetening Agent

• Used to impart sweetness to a preparation.
• Examples: aspartame, dextrose, glycerin, mannitol, saccharin sodium, sorbitol, sucrose

Tablet Antiadherents

• Agents which prevents the sticking of tablet formulation ingredients to punches and dies in a tableting machine during production.
• Magnesium stearate, talc

Tablet Binders

• Substances used to cause adhesion of powder particles in tablet granulations.
• Examples: acacia, alginic acid, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, compressible sugar (e.g., NuTab), ethylcellulose, gelatin, liquid glucose methylcellulose, povidone, pregelatinized starch

Tablet and Capsule Diluent

• Inert substances used as fillers to create the desired bulk, flow properties, and compression characteristics in the preparation of tablets and capsules.
• Examples: dibasic calcium phosphate, kaolin, lactose, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, powdered cellulose, precipitated calcium carbonate, sorbitol, starch

Tablet Coating Agent

• Used to coat a formed tablet for the purpose of protecting against drug decomposition by atmospheric oxygen or humidity, to provide a desired release pattern for the drug substance after administration, to mask the taste or odor of the drug substance, or for aesthetic purposes. The coating may be of various types, including sugar-coating, film coating, or enteric coating. Sugar coating is water based and results in a thickened covering around a formed tablet. Sugar-coated tablets generally start to break up in the stomach. A film coat is a thin cover around a formed tablet or bead. Unless it is an enteric coat, the film coat will dissolve in the stomach. An enteric-coated tablet or bead will pass through stomach and break up in the intestines. Some coatings that are water-insoluble (e.g., ethylcellulose) may be used to coat tablets and beads to slow the release of drug as they pass through the gastrointestinal tract.
• Examples: sugar coating – liquid glucose, sucrose; film-coating – hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, methycellulose (e.g., Methocel), ethylcellulose (e.g., Ethocel); enteric coating – cellulose acetat phthalate, shellac (35% in alcohol, “pharmaceutical glaze”)

Tablet Direct Compression Excipient

• Used in direct compression tablet formulations.
• Examples: dibasic calcium phosphate (e.g., Ditab)

Tablet Disintegrant

• Used in solid dosage forms to promote the disruption of the solid mass into smaller particles which are more readily dispersed or dissolved.
• Examples: alginic acid carboxymethylcellulose calcium, polacrilin potassium (e.g., Amberlite), microcrystalline cellulose (e.g., Avicel), sodium alginate, sodium starch glycollate, starch

Tablet Glidant

• Agents used in tablet and capsule formulations to improve the flow properties of the powder mixture.
• Examples: colloidal silica, cornstarch, talc

Tablet Lubricant

• Substances used in tablet formulations to reduce friction during tablet compression.
• Examples: calcium stearate, magnesium stearate, mineral oil, stearic acid, zinc stearate

Tablet/Capsule Opaquant

• Used to render a capsule or a tablet coating opaque. May be used alone or in combination with a colorant.
• Examples: titanium dioxide

Tablet Polishing Agent

• Used to impart an attractive sheen to coated tablets.
• Examples: carnauba wax, white wax

Tonicity Agent

• Used to render a solution similar in osmotic characteristics to physiologic fluids. Ophthalmic, parenteral, and irrigation fluids are examples of preparations in which tonicity is a consideration.
• Examples: dextrose, sodium chloride

Vehicle

• A carrying agent for a drug substances. They are used in formulating a variety of liquid dosage for oral and parenteral administration. Generally, oral liquids are aqueous preparations (as syrups) or hydroalcoholic (as elixirs). Parenteral solutions for intravenous use are aqueous, whereas intramuscular injections may be aqueous or oleaginous.
• Examples: flavored/sweetened – acacia syrup, aromatic syrup, aromatic elixir, cherry syrup, cocoa syrup, orange syrup, syrup; oleaginous – corn oil, mineral oil, peanut oil, sesame oil; sterile – bacteriostatic sodium chloride injection, bacteriostatic water for injection

Viscosity Increasing Agent

• Used to change the consistency of a preparation to render it more resistant to flow. Used in suspensions to deter sedimentation, in ophthalmic solutions to enhance contact time (e.g., methylcellulose), to thicken topical creams, etc.
• Examples: alginic acid, bentonite, carbomer, carboxymethylcellulose sodium, methylcellulose, povidone, sodium alginate, tragacanth

Generic Dispensing Flow Chart

If prescription is fully filled, retain prescription and file for 2 years.
If prescription is partially filled, indicate the number dispensed in prescription and return it to the patient.

I am a Pharmacist

• I am a specialist in medications
  I supply medicines and pharmaceuticals to those who need them.
  I prepare and compound special dosage forms.
  I control the storage and preservation of all medications in my care.
• I am a custodian of medical information
  My library is a ready source of drug knowledge.
  My files contain thousands of specific drug names and tens of thousands of facts about them.
  My records include the medication and health history of entire families.
  My journals and meetings report advances in pharmacy from around the world.
• I am a companion of the physicians
  I am a partner in the case of every patient who takes any kind of medication.
  I am a consultant on the merits of different therapeutic agents.
  I am the connecting link between physician and patients and the final check on the safety of medicines.
• I am a counselor to the patient-specific
  I help the patient understand the proper use of prescription medication.
  I assist in the patient's choice of nonprescription drugs or in the decision to consult a physician.
  I advise the patient on matters of prescription storage and potency.
• I am a guardian of the public health
  My pharmacy is a center for health-care information
  I encourage and promote sound personal health practices.
  My services are available to all at all times.
• This is my calling
• This is my pride

Things the FDRO Requires and Observes When an Unexpected Inspection Is Taken Place

I do not know if you have experienced or going to experience it yet regarding the unanticipated inspection of FDA in to your drugstore. As he goes inside your drugstore or pharmacy, he will require you to provide what he asks and commands. Sometimes you might not know he observes your drugstore according to its cleanliness, organization, condition, ventilation and etc. But importantly you must prepare each day, because the enemy comes only when you are not prepared and ready!

Things to do each day:

1. Always update your prescription book and keep your filed prescriptions always. This book should update each day and proper filling is needed. When any missed or not written even one day you shall be reproached and violation is made! FDA warns you to file many prescription in you book, even no much costumers are presenting their prescription or at times they do not want to leave their prescription to you. They get irate and you will be the villain, however you still do your part. But FDA does not care about that. 
    
2. Be careful of a pretentious FDRO who pretends to be a buyer just to get you in act of dispensing without proper prescription and telling your violation. I do not know if this act of catching a violators is right or wrong. If FDA wants to impose their regulation about proper handling and presentation of prescription of consumers they must directly reach the consumer to inform and teach them why prescription and check up are very important. Do not put the blame to drugstores and pharmacists, because even a million times you inform the customer about that they would not listen. The power is with them also to educate consumers about prescription and importance of attending physician when an ailment is felt, and not just giving the burden to pharmacists alone.
   
   
3. Always monitor your refrigerator's temperature where vaccines and biological are stored not doing so would be a violation.
   
   
4. If boxes and cases are available in your drugstore be sure to provide any wood, metal or plastic platforms to place them. Not doing so is a violation.
   
   
5. Be sure to maintain proper cleanliness and organization in your drugstore. If not a reproach will be heard.
   
   
6. Prepare Dispensing apparatus and thermometers that they might be asked.
   
   
7. Provide a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) Manual of your pharmacy.
   
   
8. References such as books, RAs, and laws are always available. They must be complete. If you want to see the complete lists of RAs and laws click here.
   
   
9. Menu cards, MDRP, GMAP and lists of generics and branded drugs must be present and easily accessed by customers. Not showing any of them is a violation.
   
   
10. Do not purchase or obtain smuggled, unregistered, peddled and counterfeit drugs. When caught it is a big case against pharmacist, the owner and the drugstore itself. This might cause to revocation of your licenses.
    
    
11. Business permits, tax registration and DTR/SEC registration must be available.
    
    
12. Pharmacist's documents must be available always, photocopy will do. But the PRC ID should be shown in original card. Documents such as PTR and PRC ID must be updated and current.
    
    
13. Proper disposal, removal and keeping of expired and returned drugs. Drug samples must not be mixed with the good stock and salable drugs.
    
    
14. See to it the that permits, the FDA LTO, and other business documents are properly displayed in an conspicuous area.
    
    
15. Original FDA LTO must be presented in the inspection. Not showing will lead to violation.
    
    
16. Approach the FDRO properly and let him enter your drugstore. Entertain him well! Not doing so will make him irate and gives you but reviews giving you violation.
    
    
17. See to it that your ventilation and room temperature are with in the required standard.
    
    
18. Buy generator when biological and vaccines are available in you drugstore. FDRO are looking for generator/s when these products are present. Rationale: In case a power interruption is occurred, required temperature is maintained for the vaccines and biological.
    
    
19. Sales invoices, delivery receipt and other invoices must be duly organized, because sometimes FDRO looks for them. 
     
20. The Senior citizen's book and Persons with disability book should always be available in the pharmacy. Should always be updated and prescriptions are also kept and filed.
    
    
21. Duly labeling of drugs' category or naming the used of drugs must be placed in shelves and cabinets to facilitate acquisition and organization of drugs when dispensing or replenishing.
    
    
22. The most important of all is the Pharmacist must be present when the time of inspection is upheld. Non appearance will be a violation not only for the drugstore but also for the pharmacist itself. So be present always in your drugstore or, if not possible, a shifting pharmacists might be advisable.

The following situations and preparations are only case to case basis. They do not represent the actual and standard unexpected inspection. But they might serve as a basis for such situation. Some predicaments are not same to those in the list and might be changed. These serve as your guidance only.

Hardest Subjects in Pharmacy Board Examination

Every board exam contenders or examinees are much vexed or anxious about the questions that might appear in the questionnaire. In pharmacy, there are six subjects or modules to take. To be able to pass the board exam, a contender should at least have each subject a 75 percentage weight grade, so that an average percentage weight of 75% will be final result. The board exam percentage is sometimes adjusted with relevant of how many examinees were passed. When the national passing percentage result reached just below 50%, allegedly, the PRC and Board of Pharmacy have the power to adjust the result to reach the 50% passing, and giving the chance to those contenders who are in between to pass. 

But what are the hardest modules in the pharmacy board exam? 

Because pharmacy industry is a very dynamic and versatile profession, the subjects are composed of questions pertinent to different areas within the profession. Either administrative, industrial, health care or clinical, we are fit to work. Thus, subjects are related to those said areas.

The six subjects are PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY, PHAMACOGNOSY, PRACTICE OF PHARMACY, PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOKINETICS, PHARMACEUTICS and QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL. These subjects are all tackled and included in the syllabuses and semesters of a pharmacy student, so that students have the basic knowledge and skills on each specific subject. According to takers and passers, the hardest subjects on the six modules are the module 3 and 4. Because in Practice of Pharmacy, and Pharmacology and Pharmacokinetics, the questions are not anticipated and basic knowledge must possess to answer the questions. It is not just a simple multiple choice, but choosing the best answer should be done to pick the right answer. Also, a mixture of all the subjects can produce in the module 3. A combination of calculations, chemistry, application of pharmacy can feasibly expected to come out. In module 4, questions maybe situational and application of use of drugs.

They only way to prepare for the board exam and to fully achieve the so called RPh, I advice students to take note and give importance to the basic learnings and basic knowledge to their studies. Stock knowledge is very essential and useful when the time of your breaking through to become a registered pharmacist taken place. Good Luck!

B. Braun Medical Supplies Discontinued Importation of Introcan W.IV. Cannula

According to B. Braun Medical Supplies, Inc., they have been discontinued the importation of Introcan W.I.V Cannula, and they have surrendered their Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) to the FDA Philippines by virtue or their acknowledgment letters dated September 8 2010.

As quoted in the letter, “Therefore, the following article numbers available and circulating lately across the country EXCEPT THOSE MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JULY 2010 are considered UNREGISTERED AND ILLEGALLY SOURCED and anybody identified in possession of these articles are PUNISABLE BY LAW per Section 11 of RA 9711, the FDA Act of 2009:

Article Numbers	Description
4254171B	Introcan-W, 16G
4254139B	Introcan-W, 18G
4254112B	Introcan-W, 20G
4254090B	Introcan-W, 22G
4254074B	Introcan-W, 24G

Be it known further that the stocks discovered in some outlets in Bambang, Sta. Cruz, Manila were already reported to the FDA and are not sealed, monitored by the Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health and Research (CDRRHR formerly known as BHDT).”

But, why there are still circulating product articles in the country? Does FDA and Bureau of Customs are doing their job to really stop illegal importation and smuggling of these articles.

This to inform the public. Beware of purchasing Introcan W.I.V Cannula articles! You might not know that the product you are buying is an smuggled one. Please report any related illegal act to FDA Philippines, and convincing the public and health care professionals in particular to enjoin FDA and B. Braun against illegal importation and distribution of these said articles.

Probable Hints and Acquisition of Pharmacists Board Exam Questions

MODULE 1: PHARMACEUTICAL CHEMISTRY (20%)
Under this module most of questions are gathered from:

• Inorganic Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry
  
• Organic Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry
  

Questions might be probably come from Old and New PACOP Reviewers.



MODULE 2: PHAMACOGNOSY (15%)
Under this module most of questions are gathered from:

• Plant Chemistry
  
• Biochemistry
  

Questions might be probably come from Old and New PACOP Reviewers. Should also review the 1995 – 1998 Board Exam questions.

MODULE 3: PRACTICE OF PHARMACY (17.5%)

Under this module most questions are gathered from:

• Compounding and Dispensing Pharmacy
• Clinical and Hospital Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Calculations

Questions might be probably come from Old and New PACOP Reviewers. Situational Questions must be expected. Questions might come from unknown.



MODULE 4: PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOKINETICS (15%)

Under this module most questions are gather from:

• Toxicology
• Incompatibilities and Adverse Drug Reactions

Questions might be probably come from Old and New PACOP Reviewers. Situational Questions must be expected. Questions might come from unknown.



MODULE 5: PHARMACEUTICS (17.5%)

Under this module most questions are gather from:

• Manufacturing Pharmacy
• Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
• Physical Pharmacy
• Jurisprudence and Ethics

Questions might be probably come from Old and New PACOP Reviewers.



MODULE 6: QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL (15%)

Under this module most questions are gather from:

• Microbiology and Public Health
• Qualitative Pharmaceutical Chemistry
• Drug Testing with Instrumentation

Questions might be probably come from Old and New PACOP Reviewers. Should also review the 1995 – 1998 Board Exam questions.

The above hints or cues are not exact and actual. These might be right or wrong. The only purpose to giving such is to inform or advise what review materials must be concentrated to review. It is up to readers to follow them or not. To your information only!

When Does Pharmacists Board Exam held?

Board Examination for Pharmacists or Pharmacists Licensure Examination are held twice a year. It is being held either the mid-year, June or July, and beginning of the year, January. The exact dates are chosen by Board of Pharmacy and PRC. Takers and passers have said that mid-year exam is the harder and challenging compared to the the January examination. But I think it is not the time of having it, however, how do your review, knowledge and education lead you to your success.

Days To Wait Before Pharmacy Board Exam Result Be Released

Before the agony and depression, the frustration and discouragement, the anxiety and doubt, and the suffering end, the waiting must be over and must be stopped. That is the unwanted feelings that felt while board exam results is awaiting to be released.

After taking the board exam, in pharmacists licensure examination result is released after 2-3 days from the examination day. Thus, psychological burden and anxiety will not be lasted for so long, but can be appeased and ceased after knowing the result. The very tragic and vehement situation is when you never seen your name in the lists of passed pharmacists. How sad...

Professional Tax Registration (PTR) for Pharmacists

All professionals who are actively working must have their PTR with them. PTR should be applied and acquired after receiving the PRC ID and must be renewed starting the year. Missed renewal or late renewal will cause you penalty or chargers depending on your profession and case. The amount of payment of PTR is ranging from Php200 – Php500, and may depend on the city or town you are applying for. The original PTR receipt should be kept and may be photo copied for future purposes and be used in renewing. Government employees are exempted from applying PTR.

PTR for pharmacists are very important in their line of work and registration. PTR are needed whenever a transaction is done between a two pharmaceutical companies or agencies are transacting. Pharmacy PTR no. are needed for registration and renewal of license of pharmaceutical company in FDA, in PDEA, in big distributors or manufacturing company. PTR no. is one the important documents that a pharmacist should always update and have.

Importance of FDA Mandated Seminars

Every pharmacist should have attended a seminars whenever a job of his needing it. FDA Philippines has been always conducting a seminar to educate and update pharmacists in pertaining to their profession and practice. Each seminar gives a chance to pharmacists to learn and acquire proper knowledge about the work they have been chosen. Because pharmacy is very dynamic profession that has a lot of areas to work into, and pharmacy activity has been active in these era , FDA is inevitably let pharmacists not be updated and ignorant in existing policies and regulation that being implemented in relation to their profession and work. The seminars and training conducting by FDA are the following:

1. Seminar in Licensing a drugstore, drug outlet, and chinese and herbal drugstores;
2. Seminar in Licensing a distributor;
3. Seminar in Licensing a production, trading, exporting, importing and etc;
4. Updates and latest in pharmaceutical industry;
5. Pharmacovigilance and surveillance seminar;
6. Training programs in diagnostic, laboratory and drug testing;
7. Training in bioassay, quality assurance and quality control;
8. Seminar in food, devices and cosmetics;
9. Others trainings and seminars

Continuous seminars and trainings are being held whole year around base on the schedules and seminars that FDA is providing. Sometimes seminars are being held outside FDA premises and sponsored by a pharmaceutical company to reach those professionals that cannot attend because of distance.

Important!

Please be reminded that registering to a seminar and training should be confirmed first before attending, because when your name is not enlisted in their list you will not be accepted. Sometimes the date in the registration form is not compatible in the given official receipt. Be sure to ask the real time and date of seminar, because FDA does not reach you or even to inform you the real time and date of the seminar, or if the seminar is postponed or moved. Do not believe the scheduled seminars that appeared in their FDA website, because it is unreliable. Best to do is to confirm you name through phone.

Significance of Functional Group

Functional Group is a group of atoms in a molecule which gives the characteristic property and reaction. It is also the basis of naming a certain molecule or entity of chemicals. In pharmacy, functional group is not just only to use in naming a drug, but it is the important part of the drug that exhibits a biological action into the human body or against another molecule. Important functional groups in pharmacy are hydroxyl group, carbonyl group which is divided into ketone or aldehyde, carboxyl group, sulfhydryl group, halongen group and etc.

In pharmacy, the functional group is the part of a molecule that imparts the activity and action of the drug. It is the group that considers to have affinity and ability to bind to a receptor. It is the main part of a drug that acts on the microorganisms to either destroy or prevent them such as Fluoro and Chloro in Flucloxacillin and Cloxacillin, respectively. It is also the reason why drug interaction happens.

Thus, the significance of functional groups in the pharmacy is more than just naming or reaction of a chemical to another chemical, but it is the main group that provides action and importance of a certain drug. It will be the basis to distinct and identify a drug and its mode of action, or the site of action, classification and drug category from another drug.

Invida Group Shall Be Known as Menarini Asia-Pacific

Invida Group had been already acquired by Menarini Group. Menarini Group is an Italian owned pharmaceutical company that established in 1886 in Italy. It is Italy's largest pharmaceutical company and ranks 17^th in Europe and 34^th globally. As we know that Invida Group is a pharmaceutical company that solely marketed the Nubain ampules, Aldomet tablet, Dermatix, and etc. had been acquired by Menarini Group in November 2011. Today, the Menarini Group maintains strong international presence with 16,000 employees in over 100 countries in Europe, Central America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. 

As it is always conclusion, all products, assets and liabilities that marketed and owned by Invida Group shall be transferred and carried over to Menarini Group. Still a partnership within distribution here in Philippines is still Zuellig Pharma. But a lot of changes will be expected in the products soon, such as the revamp of packaging, the style and the marketing strategies, that will be fully transformed. So those transacting for deals and discounts for Nubain ampules and other products shall be assessed and granted by the new company. This is for your information only.

A. Menarini Philipppines, Inc. is located and reached at:

4^th Floor, W Building, 11^th Avenue corner 28^th Street,

Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacion Global City,

Taguig City 1634, Philippines

Tel: +632 333 3800 / +632 333 3888

Fax: + (632) 478 6800

www.menariniapac.com

S2 License for Prescribers

S2 License is solely given to any authoritative person who is acknowledged by law that can prescribe dangerous drugs. This group of professionals who can prescribe regulated drugs are physicians, veterinarians, and dentists. Because of the power given to them as the prescribers of drugs, it is their duty to give orders such as. However, not all doctors are allowed to order regulated drugs. Under the Philippine law, it is clearly mentioned that any doctor who wants to practice prescribing regulated drugs should be registered in PDEA and must obtain a S2 license ID and S2 license number. These are very particularly needed in prescribing regulated drugs.

Requirements on registering are the following:

1. Drug testing must be done before applying. Result should be negative of any kind of regulated drug.
2. PRC ID should be updated.
3. Must be personally apply to the PDEA office, because picture taking will be done and interview may be done, too.
4. Application fee is Php500.00.

After applying, a temporary S2 License number shall be given to you. The S2 license will only be full and permanent when within 3 months the applicant will claim his S2 license ID in the PDEA office (because the ID contains the permanent S2 license number). Whenever three months have been already passed and the ID is not claimed, the application shall be null and void, thus, the temporary S2 license number shall be revoked at once.

In case the situation is positive and the prescriber has successfully registered, he may now obtain yellow prescription. Yellow prescription is a specialized prescription paper that can be only used in prescribing regulated drugs and only be used by a PDEA registered doctor. The price of each yellow prescription pad is Php250.00, contains 50 triplicate pages, and can be obtained in the following areas:

1. DOH-CHDs
2. East Avenue Medical Center
3. National Children Hospital
4. 27 DOH-retained hospitals
5. DDB (which is located in the PDEA main building office, 3^rd floor)

The validity of the registration is equated with that of the expiration of the PRC ID. If the PRC ID is already expired prescribing must be ceased and renewed again, if not the doctor will be illegally prescribing dangerous drugs.

Evolution of Hospital Pharmacy