Hospitals, doctors urged to renew PDEA licenses via online

CEBU CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday encouraged all entities and individual professionals handling controlled substances to take advantage of the agency's online platform that offers easy registration and renewal of licenses.

"PDEA is proud to announce that we have already the PDEA Regulatory Compliance System through pdea.gov.ph where they can apply or renew their licenses," Nezen Tomabini, dangerous drugs regulations officer 3 of PDEA Region 7, said in a forum here.

Tomabini said the program is part of the agency's effort to strengthen its monitoring of entities and other professionals authorized to handle controlled substances.

The effort, she said, is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to fully implement Republic Act 11032 or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018.

Tomabini said the law mandates that all government offices should create an electronic version of licenses and permits for the convenience of the applicants or the requesting parties to print their copy.

"Those entities handling dangerous drugs like morphine, fentanyl or controlled precursors like acetone, muriatic acid are controlled under RA 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2001)," she said.

The Regulatory Compliance System is an online platform where pharmacies, hospitals, or doctors can apply or renew their licenses, Tomabini said.

Holders of old licenses are still required to upload a copy of their license to their online account before they can apply for renewal.

Entities or individuals who will be caught dispensing or importing dangerous drugs without or expired license may face criminal cases under different sections of RA 9165, she added. (PNA)