The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) filed administrative charges yesterday against the Belo Medical Group, owned by celebrity plastic surgeon Vicki Belo, for selling products they say have not been approved.
The FDA conducted a surveillance at Belo’s Alabang clinic on Friday and found that it was selling products that were not approved by the regulatory body.
According to a CNN Philippines report, authorities found the following unapproved products being sold:
- ZO Medical by Zein Obagi
- MD Glycogent Exfoliation Accelerator 10% concentration
- ZO Medical by Zein Obagi Foamacleanse Gentle Foaming Cleanser for all types
- ZO Medical by Zein Obagi Oclipse Sunscreen/Primer SPF 30 Protection
- Belo Illuminating Cream Alpha Arbutin+Liquorice
- Belo Prescriptives Keralyt 2 Cream
- ZO Medical by Zein ObagiMD Melamix Skin Lightener & Blending Creme Hydroquinone USP 4%
- ZO Medical by Zein Obagi MD Melanin Skin Bleaching & Correcting Creme Hydroquinone USP 4%
- Belo Prescriptives Acne Astringent
- Belo Prescriptives Belo White
- Belo Prescriptives DLC Peeling Creme
- ZO Medical by Zein Obagi MD Cebatrol
According to a report in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, they may also file criminal charges because the clinic’s employees allegedly tried to stop FDA representatives from inspecting the clinic and its pharmacy.
“The Belo Medical Group’s pharmacy is under FDA’s jurisdiction and we have legal authority to enter and inspect it, [during] reasonable hours and [in a reasonable] manner… They can be cited for contempt or obstruction of justice for their refusal,” FDA Director General Nela Charade Puno said in a statement today.
Belo Medical Group issued a statement on the matter saying the FDA surveillance “confused and scared” their personnel, as police also showed up and some refused to show their valid IDs upon request.
“Also, our lawyer attempted to speak with the leader of the policemen through the phone to clarify matters. However, the head of the policemen refused to speak with our lawyer on the phone,” the statement added.
Using and selling products that have not been approved by the FDA is common in many clinics in the Philippines. For example, many offer glutathione drips, a procedure that intravenously transfers whitening substances to the body, even though the FDA has not approved the substance for this use.
While the FDA can order clinics to stop selling unregistered products, policing doctors who use or sell them is left to the country’s Professional Regulation Commission. Usually, many get away with it, so a lot of clinics openly advertise unapproved services.
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