Resolution No. 39 s. 2007

  

BOARD RESOLUTION No. 39

Series of 2007

AUTHORIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO DECLARE A MORATORIUM ON THE ACCREDITATION OF NEW DRUG TESTING LABORATORIES

WHEREAS, Article III, Section 39 of RA 9165, otherwise known as the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”, mandates the Department of Health (DOH) to “license and accredit drug testing centers in each province and city in order to assure their capacity, competence, integrity and stability to conduct the laboratory examination and tests”;

WHEREAS, Article VII, Section 76 (b) of the said law likewise tasks the DOH to “license, accredit, establish and maintain drug test network and laboratory”;

WHEREAS, Article IX, Section 81(k) of the same law mandates the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to “prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing the establishment of such centers, networks and laboratories as deemed necessary after conducting a feasibility study in coordination with DOH and other government agencies”;

WHEREAS, concerned sectors have recommended for a moratorium on the accreditation of new drug testing laboratories, citing the proliferation of existing drug laboratories resulting in poor services rendered to the public and compromising the integrity and quality of drug testing activities;

WHEREAS, data from the Department of Health show that in some regions, the number of existing drug testing laboratories far exceeds the demand for their services;

WHEREAS, several consultations have been done with stakeholders and they all agree that there is a need for a declaration of a moratorium on the matter in order to allow the concerned agencies to study the problem thoroughly and take appropriate corrective action thereon;

WHEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, as it is hereby RESOLVED, to authorize the Department of Health to declare a moratorium on the accreditation of drug testing laboratories in specific areas, provided that such declaration shall be done through a DOH Memorandum after a careful evaluation using critical indicators and after due public consultation and provided further that any moratorium declared by the Department of Health shall not exceed two years and shall be implemented three (3) months after the approval of this resolution.

ADOPTED and APPROVED this 11^th day of December, in the year of our Lord, 2007 in Quezon City

Secretary ANSELMO S. AVENIDO, JR.

Chairman, Dangerous Drugs Board