CONSUMER HEALTH
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Drugs
- involves knowing facts and having a deeper
understanding that enable people to make wise
choices
THREE FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN CONSUMER HEALTH
1. Health Information
- important in deciding what health products and
services to acquire
2. Health Products
3. Health Service Personnel
- sources of health information
HEALTH CONSUMER
- someone who examines health information in
products and services
- one who purchases and utilizes the goods and
services
HEALTH INFORMATION
- everything seen, read, or heard in relation to
human and community health
- could be in the form of print media, electronic and
digital media
- a wise consumer needs to carefully evaluate health
information or else they will fall victim to fake or
substandard health products
SOURCES OF TRUSTED HEALTH INFORMATION
· Medical and health professionals
· Government agencies (DOH, FDA)
· Private and nongovernment organizations endorsed
by the government to assist consumers
· Medical specialists referred by doctors
· Local health officials
· National voluntary agencies (Philippine National
Red Cross)
· Reliable websites
SOURCES OF RISKY HEALTH INFORMATION
· Outdated customs and practices without scientific
basis
· Paid health advertisement on TV, newspapers, and
the internet
· Claims based on hearsays, unreliable media,
testimonials, ignorance, partiality
· Personal options and incomplete information
· Quack and pseudo healers
· Superstitions
HEALTH PRODUCTS
- include medicines, medical equipment, and related
devices
- relieve symptoms, aid in curing illnesses, and
provide cosmetic effects
1.
a. Pain Relievers (aspirin and ibuprofen) – harm the
stomach lining, lead to ulcer and can cause kidney
damage
b.Acetaminophen – used for fever and pain reliever
for children
– can cause bleeding, liver pain, and irritation of
the stomach lining
c. Nasal Sprays – relieve congestion
– can cause blood vessels to swell and worsen the
congestion (rebound effect)
– can result to bleeding and loss of sense of smell
d.Laxatives – destroys flora and worsens
constipation
2. Cosmetic Products
a. Skin Care Products
· Moisturizers – prevent the skin from drying for
only a limited period of time
· Deodorants and anti-perspirants – help control
body odor
· Sweating – primary means of cooling the body
· Regular washing – essential if the bacteria and
other odor-causing substances are to be
removed
b.Hair Care Products
· Tweezers – used to pluck unwanted hair
c. Oral Care Products
· Water supply containing fluoride – help
prevent dental cavities
· Toothpaste with whiteners – contain abrasive
elements that damage the teeth
· Mouthwashes and gargles – eliminate bad
odor or treat sore throat
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING HEALTH INFORMATION
1. Content
2. Purpose
3. Source
4. Feedback/Response
HEALTH SERVICES
- activities done to assess, maintain or improve the
individual’s health
- diagnosis and treatment of illnesses, injuries or
disabilities
EVALUATION OF HEALTH SERVICES
- important element in the definition of an adequate
and affordable health care system
1. location of service points; effectiveness of doctors,
clinics, and hospitals
2. promptness and kindness
3. ease of access to the authorization forms for
consultations
 4. price HEALTH INSURANCE
5. diversity of available doctors, clinics, and hospitals - insurance against the risk of incurring medical
expenses among individuals
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS - covers medical expenses for illnesses, injuries, and
- engaged in providing solutions to health-related conditions
problems
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING HEALTH SERVICES
MEDICAL SPECIALISTS 1. Importance
1. Anesthesiologist – administration of anesthesia 2. Scientifically Sound
2. Cardiologist – coronary artery disease; heart 3. Feasible
disease 4. Actionable
3. Dermatologist – skin conditions
4. Family Physician – general care physician WAYS TO BUY HEALTH PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
5. Gynecologist – female reproductive system INTELLIGENTLY
6. Internist – treatment of diseases in adults 1. Read
7. Obstetrician – pregnancy, labor, childbirth 2. Compare
8. Ophthalmologist – eye diseases and treatment 3. Inquire
9. Primary care physician – general health and
medical care ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
10. Surgeon – treats diseases by surgery - complement regular medicine
- not considered as standard medical practices by the
DENTAL SPECIALISTS experts in medicine
1. Dentist – general care of the teeth and oral cavity - just accompany not replace the regular medicines
2. Endodontist – diseases of tooth below gum line and prescribed by medical specialist
root canal therapy
3. Orthodontist – teeth alignment, malocclusion HERBAL MEDICINE
4. Pedodontist – dental care of the children - herb – plant or part of a plant
5. Periodontist – diseases supporting structures - use of plants or parts of plants like stems, roots,
6. Prosthodontist – construction of artificial barks, seeds, leaves, flowers, and fruits for medical
appliances for the mouth purposes
ACAPULKO
MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS - acapulco
1. Pychologist - insect bites, itchiness, ringworms, infections,
2. Psychiatrist scabies, and eczema
3. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist AMPALAYA
- bitter melon or bitter gourd
OTHER HEALTH PROFESSIONALS - diabetes, burns, coughs, hemorrhoids
1. Nurse BAWANG
2. Midwive - garlic
- reducing blood cholesterol level
HEALTH CARE FACILITIES - anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory
- created to provide basic health services BAYABAS
PHILIPPINE HEALTH INSURANCE CORP (PHILHEALTH) - guava
- established in 1995 to create a universal health - antioxidant, anti-allergy, antimicrobial, and anti-
coverage for the Philippines diabetic
- government owned and controlled corporation LAGUNDI
(GOCC) - five-leaved chaste tree
- attached to the DOH - cough, colds, fever
- goal: ensure a sustainable national health NIYOG-NIYOGAN
insurance program for all - Chinese honeysuckle
HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATION (HMO) - intestinal parasites
- offer a wide range of health care services to SAMBONG
members - blumea or nagi camphor
 - hypertension, kidney stones, rheumatism, cough,
and colds
TSAANG GUBAT
- wild tea
- skin allergies
ULASIMANG BATO OR PANSIT-PANSITAN
- peperomia pellucida
- arthritis and gout
YERBA BUENA
- peppermint
- insect bites, coughs, and colds
VENTOSA
- glasses are placed on some important points at the
back of the person
- effective in creating a kind of suction because of the
vacuum inside the glass
- the suction created by the glass and heat (candle or
fire) supports blood flow and promotes healing of
the body
REFLEXOLOGY
- applying pressure to the feet, ears or hands by
means of the thumb or a particular finger
- reflex points – area where pressure is applied
because it is believed that it corresponds to a
certain person’s major area of the body or human
organ
NATUROPATHY
- uses natural ways to treat a patient
- restore the balance of the body and mind of the
patients
- more interested to treat not just the physical causes
of an illness but also the mental and emotional
causes
MASSAGE THERAPY
- improve one’s well-being
- result in good circulation of blood
- helps reduce muscle pains and stiffness
- provides relief from stress
- popular because of its relaxing effect
QUACKERY
- promotion of false and unproven health products
and services for a profit
- consumer fraud that involves the practices of
promoting and selling useless products and services
- claims:
1. scientific breakthrough
2. to have a secret ingredient or procedure
3. being a miraculous cure or an ancient remedy or
practice
4. cures multiple or a wide range of illnesses
QUACK
- a person or company involved in health fraud which
usually tries hard to appear scientific
- may endorse products or services with a promise of
quick cures, miracles, or unbelievable formulas
- tell people what they want to hear
- may sell door-to-door or by telephone
- provide testimonials from people who are believed
to have been healed by particular products
HEALTH FRAUD
- advertising, promoting and selling of products and
services that have not been scientifically proven
safe and effective
HOW TO RECOGNIZE QUACKS?
1. Does the seller claim that traditional medical
treatment is more harmful rather than helpful?
2. Does the seller use scare tactics that play on fears
and emotions?
3. Does the seller claim that the medical profession
does not recognize this product or service?
4. Does the seller guarantee a quick cure for an
incurable disease?
Consumers should be very careful and suspicious of:
· uses celebrity as endorsers
· does not have adequate labeling like indications for
use and directions
· claims that the product has a secret formula
· has conspicuous promotion
· claims cure for different disorders like cancer and
sexual dysfunction
· claims all natural, no side effects, works
immediately and permanently, or no doctor’s
consultation necessary
TYPES OF QUACKERY
1. Medical Quackery
– uses fake, ineffective and risky means for claimed
medical cure
– drugless therapy, risky abortion, diagnosis by eye
examination
2. Cancer Quackery
– Koch Treatment – using distilled water and
Mucorchicin (fermented wheat, yeast, salt, water
and molds)
3. Food Quackery
– foods that do not contain substances good for the
body and might be risky
4. Arthritis and Rheumatism Quackery
5. Device Quackery
6. Beauty Quackery
 7. Psychological Quackery
8. Balding Quackery

CONSUMER RIGHTS
- privileges that a consumer is guaranteed
- make individuals a smart consumer and prevent
them from being deceived by inaccurate
information thus protecting their health as well as
others.

CONSUMER ACT OF THE PHILIPPINES

1. Protection against hazards to health and safety
2. Protection against deceptive, unfair, and
unconscionable sales, acts and practices
3. Provision of information and education to facilitate
sound choices and to properly exercise the rights
of the consumer
4. Provision of adequate rights and means of redress
5. Involvement of consumer representatives in the
formulation of social and economic policies

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY
- implement laws protecting consumers
- make researches and test the quality of products
- give guidelines for the quality of products

PROFESSIONAL AND VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS

- help safeguard their members and all Filipinos by
providing guidelines and information of different
health products and services
- Kilusang Mamimili ng Pilipinas, Inc.
- Philippine Medical Association
- Philippine Dental Association
- Health Education Association of the Philippines

BASIC RIGHTS OF CONSUMERS

1. Right to be safe
2. Right to choose freely
3. Right to be informed
4. Right to be heard
5. Right to service
6. Right to education