The Department of Health (DOH) has recently issued Administrative Order No. 1-A, Series of 1997, prescribing the following guidelines in the prescription and use of drugs against intestinal parasites to Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and seafarers.

1.         Anti-helminthic and amebecidal drugs should be given only when medically indicated; that is, when stool examination shows the presence of ova or parasites, specific drugs should be prescribed following the dosage schedule indicated in the literature and the PIMS.

2.         Routine, prophylactic and shot-gun therapy are without scientific basis and therefore are strictly prohibited.

3          The accredited medical clinics/hospitals must educate all their client OFWs and seafarers regarding the dangers of self-medication. They should be advised to strictly follow the prescriptions given to them by the clinic/hospital.

4.         A repeat stool examination may be performed one week prior to departure of the OFW or seafarer and if medically indicated, anti-intestinal parasitic drugs should be prescribed.

5.         Prescribed drugs and their dosages, must be properly recorded in the official logbooks of the medical clinics which shall be made available upon request of the Bureau of Licensing and Regulation, DOH, and other interested parties.

You are requested to help disseminate the above information to your respective medical clinics and hospitals, and applicant workers and seafarers.

Adopted: 23 April 1997