The Food and Drugs Administration assured the public that the evaluation and reevaluation of contraceptives, including those covered by a Supreme Court order, “is aboveboard and transparent.”
The agency said the results of the process “will be fully compliant with the standards set by the High Court.”
FDA director-general Nela Charade Puno made the assurance as the agency nears the completion of the review in line with the certification and recertification of some 50 contraceptives. Several of these contraceptives are covered by an SC order for recertification following a petition by a civic group.
The SC ordered the recertification of the contraceptives to obtain a conclusive finding of whether or not they can cause or induce abortion.
Puno said the evidences submitted by various groups either to support or oppose the approval of the contraceptives “have been strongly considered and evaluated in this process.”
“We are grateful for the interest and the productive participation of these civic groups in the process,” Puno said. She added the input given by these groups “have ensured that the results of the certification and recertification processes will have solid technical and scientific bases.”
The FDA urged groups interested in submitting input for the certification and recertification process to provide the agency with evidence. The interested parties were given 10 days to submit their input and were informed of the process that the FDA would follow in the evaluation and review of the contraceptives concerned.
Puno also clarified the FDA was strictly following the standards set by the High Court as contained in the latter’s decision in a related court case.
“We will make sure that the results of the technical and scientific processes to evaluate and reevaluate these contraceptives will be made accessible to the public,” Puno said.
She said the “scientists who comprise the technical evaluation team of the FDA adhere to the highest professional standards and are committed to a transparent evaluation process.”