TOPIC: CONSUMER HEALTH (MIDTERM)

Lesson 1: Health Information

I. Introduction: Health information

In this lesson, you will learn how to give importance to yourself as a consumer. You will be able to
know what consumer education is; where to get proper information regarding the products you are
buying: how to give importance and care to consumers, and others, which have relationship to
consumerism.

Consumer Education is the knowledge that people must have in order to get the highest possible
standard of living from their money they spend.

A. Health Information

Health information is an advice about health products and services come from different sources.
Consumers are hungry for the kind of information and are often victims of fraudulent products and services.

As purchasers of goods and services, we should buy wisely from the standpoint of health and safety. We
must:

1. Judge which products and services will be beneficial, harmful or useless.

2. Know the local laws and regulation that protect consumers.
3. Locate dependable medical, dental and nursing services.
4. Apply knowledge acquired in respect to personal and environmental health in the purchase of
personal services and of goods.

Definition of Important Terms:

Consumer Health- the wise selection of health products, agencies concerned with the control of
these products and services, evaluation of quackery and health misconception, health careers,
and health insurance.
Health consumers- are people who use health information products, and services.
Consumer Services- include those provided by the physicians, dentists and other medical
professionals.

B. Sources of Correct Information

1. Family and Friends- The information provided by family and friends is based on common
knowledge.
2. Advertisement and Commercials- Most of us spend a good time and portion of our day
watching T.V., Listening to the radio, and reading newspapers and magazines. In there we
see and read advertisements which are health-oriented. Remember that the primary
purpose of these advertisements is to sell products and services. The mass media also
supply us with public services message that give valuable health-related information.
3. Labels and Directions- The law requires that consumer products be labeled including
many kinds of food and medications. Many health care providers and agencies provide
consumers with detailed direction about their health.
4. Folklore- Community is the primary source of health-related information for some people.
The truthfulness of health-related obtained from family members, neighbors and co-
workers are difficult to evaluate.
5. Testimonials- are the basis of decision-making of others. People feel strongly about sharing
information that has been beneficial to them.
6. Mass Media- Health programming on televisions, the lifestyle section in the newspaper,
and the health corner in magazines are examples of health-related information in the
mass media.
7. Practitioners- Education of Patients is now provided for patients by the health practitioners.
Wellness Center, Sports Medicine Center, Rural Health Unit, the Community Health
Centers—has become more patient- friendly.
8. On-line Computer Services- With the expansion of computer technology, the venue for
accessing health-related information has developed.
9. Health-reference publications- substantial number of health-related publications
subscribed by consumers.
10. Consumer Advocacy Groups- non-profit organizations that patrol market place.
11. Other agencies- are sources of information are voluntary health agencies, government
agencies and qualified health educators.
 7 types of Consumers
1. Loyal customer- This is your most important customer. They have bought your product and
keep coming back for more. They share information about your product through word-of-
mouth and social media platforms.
2. Need-based customer- These customers buy your product because they have a need
and know that your product will satisfy it. They know what they are looking for and you will
struggle to up sell to them.
3. Impulsive customer- This type of customer usually buys based on feelings. They want to feel
good about their purchase.
4. New customer- Your customer has made a purchase.
5. Potential customer- This customer may not have a need for your product or is still in the
early stages of researching the product they want to buy.
6. Discount customer-“What discount do you offer?” may be the first words you will hear from
this customer. They are only using your product for the discount.
7. Wandering customers- These are customers who come into your store to kill a bit of time
before meeting up with a friend or going to a movie.

Lesson 2: Important of Health Products and Services

A. Important health Product and services

Health Products- there are many things you can use to help keep yourself healthy. These things are
called health products. There are many different kinds of health products. Some are medicines.
Some are not medicines.
➢ For Physical Health. Some health Products are important for the health of body, or Physical
health.
➢ For Mental Health. Certain Health Products are important for the health of the mind, or
mental health. Some health Products help people overcome poor mental health
➢ For social Health. Some health products are important in getting along with other people
or inn what we call social health
Health Services- besides using health products to help keep people healthy, they use also health
services. Health services are things some people do to help others to be healthy. Like health
products, health services are used by people for their physical, mental, and social health.
➢ For Physical Health. There are many health services that are important for your physical
health. Some of the services are helping you get well if you become ill.
➢ For Mental Health. There are also many health services that are important for mental
health. Some of them are helping people overcome poor mental health. They are called
psychiatrists and psychologists.
➢ For Social Health. There are many health services that are important for social health, too.
Some of them help overcome problems with their social health.

B. Government agencies Protecting Consumers

The Bureau of Foods and Drugs (Formerly FDA)
1. It protects the consumers and law-abiding manufacturers and dealers I by enforcing the
Food and Drug Cosmetic Act.
2. Inspects factories and processing plants and looks for products that violate the law.
3. Recalls unsafe drugs or other substances from the market.
4. Enforces law against illegal sales of prescription drugs.
5. Check importation of foods, drugs, devices and cosmetics.
6. Investigate therapeutic devices for safety and truthfulness of labeling claim.
Bureau of Post- investigates any incidence of “mail fraud’ and regulates attempts to sell
worthless and harmful merchandise or drugs through mail .
Department of Health- undertakes inspection of food establishments, meat and milk products
pasteurization and narcotics.
Department of Agriculture- products related to agriculture.
Department of Trade & Industry- other consumer products not specified above.
Professional & Voluntary Groups
1. Philippine Medical Association -protects the people and the medical professor against
improper and fraudulent advertising of nostrums and propriety medical products.
2. Philippine Dental Association- protects the people by standardizing materials used in
dental practice.
3. Better and Business Bureaus- fight frauds, promote advertising. Reduce unfair
competition and educate the public and its members to protect both businessman and
the bureau.
4. Killusang Mamimili sa Pillpinas- encourages consumers to make intelligent purchases of
products and services and provides ai meeting place to discuss consumer problems.
 5. Home Economics Association and other Nutrition Groups- provide students with an
understanding of grades of products, standards and services for consumers to combat
food quackery and faddism.

C. Unreliable Sources and reliable Sources of Information

Unreliable Sources of Healthy Information:
• Customs and superstitions of the culture that do not withstand the test of the scientific
method.
• Information based on ignorance and prejudice.
• Information devised by quacks.
• Commercialized health information.
Reliable Source of Health Information:
• The most reliable single source of information is still the competent physician. He can tell
you better than anyone else whether some newly reported remedy is appropriate for you.

Lesson 3: Legal Protection of Consumer

I. Introduction: legal protection of Consumer

Introduction: In the Philippine, there are laws which have been enacted and enforced to protect the
consumer. The following are some of these consumer-related

A. Republic Act No. 3720

Republic Act No 3720, dated June 22, 1963, is known as the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. This
law declared the policy of the country to ensure the safeness and good quality of food, drugs and
cosmetics and to regulate the production, sale and traffic of the same, to protect the health of the
people. This law also established high quality standard of products and services.
The implementing arm of this law is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the
Department of Health. With the functions, powers and duties of the FDA, the consumer is protected
in the following manner:
1. The FDA can prevent some products, such as new drugs and harmful additives, from ever
being sold.
2. The FDA can initiate the removal or recall of products from the market whenever new data
reveal unacceptable risks.
3. The FDA can see to it that the products it regulates are properly formulated and
manufactured, and truthfully labeled.
4. The FDA can require products to be registered, relabeled, reformulated and repacked in a
safer way.
5. The FDA can go to court to prosecute the manufacturer, repacker and shipper of
adulterated and misbranded products.
Consumerism- is a movement that promotes the interests of buyers of goods and services. It works
to protect consumers from unsafe or low-quality products; fraudulent advertising, labeling, or
packaging, and business practices that limit competition. Consumerism also known as consumer
protection or the consumer movement. Consumerism includes activities of consumer themselves as
well as government action.

The 9 (nine) consumer rights:

1. Basic needs. The right to basic goods and services which guarantee survival: adequate
food, clothing, shelter, health care, education and sanitation.
2. Safety. The right to be protected against the marketing of goods or the provision of
services that are hazardous to health and life.
3. Information. The right to be protected against dishonest or misleading advertising or
labeling and the right to be given the facts and information needed to make an informed
choice.
4. Choice. The right to choose products and services at competitive prices with an assurance
of satisfactory quality.
5. Representation. The right to express consumer interests in the making and execution of
government policy.
6. Redress. The right to be compensated for misrepresentation, shoddy goods or
unsatisfactory services.
7. Consumer education. He right to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to be an
informed consumer.
8. Healthy environment. The right to live and work in an environment which is neither
threatening nor dangerous and which permits a life of dignity and well-being.
9. Quality. Warranties and money-back guarantees provide assurances that a product will
live up to the claims of the manufacturer.
 THE FIVE PILLARS
Consumerism as a movement in the Philippines began in 1953 with the establishment of
the Consumers Association (CA). Al though the organization folded up after several years due to
lack of funds, other consumer groups were organized in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, notable among
which are the;
• Consumers Federated Groups of the Philippines, Inc. (CFGPI)
• Kilusan ng mga Mamimili ng Pilipinas, Inc. (KMPI)
• Church-Based Consumer Movement (CBCM)
• Citizens’ Alliance for Consumer Protection (CACP)
➢ The policies and programs of these organizations are guided by the five pillars of the
consumer movement:
1. The consumer is about people. It is about value for money. More importantly, it is about value for
people.
2. Consumers must be conservers, protecting and preserving the earth. They must be aware of the
consequences of their actions.
3. Human Rights, especially the right to have their basic needs met, are central to the consumer
movement.
4. Political and economic systems often discriminate against the powerless. Consumers can help
build fair, rational, and just societies.
5. By acting together, ordinary people can make a difference. Consumers can use their organized
power to protect their interests and to fight those forces that threaten them.

B. The Philippine Consumer Protection Laws

Proclamation No 1881, dated August 14, 1979, declared the first week of October of every
year as “Consumer Protection Week.” The proclamation stated that the protection of the
consuming public against the unreasonable price increases or fraudulent practices should be the
continuing concern of the government.
1. The Price Tag Law
This law requires price tags or labels to be affixed on all articles of commerce for sale at
retail and the corresponding penalties. The tags should help the consumers to compare quality
and prices of goods. The price tag is attached to the commodity which is clearly written and
clearly seen at a distance of three meters or upon examination. The price tag should have no
erasures.
The common violations are:
a) Failure to put the correct price tags
b) Selling the goods at prices other than stated on the price tag.
c) placing price tags which cannot be seen or erasing information on the price tags

The penalties range from a fine of P 200.00 to P 150.00 and/ or imprisonment of not more
than six months or at the discretion of the court. The employees of the Department of Trade
and Industry are authorized to implement the law.

2. The Law on Fraudulent Advertising, Mislabeling or Misbranding

This law protects the consumer from unscrupulous businessmen who would want to make high
profits by deliberately misrepresenting their products through mislabeling or misbranding or by
giving information about their products through advertisements.
3. The Law on Weights and Measures
This law states that all balances on scales, weights and measures should be properly
calibrated and sealed. These are the government agencies tasked to implement the law:
a. Department of Interior and Local Government
b. Department of Science and Technology
c. Department of Trade and Industry
d.

LESSON 4: QUACKS AND QUACKERY

I. Introduction: Quacks
There are many health products and services that you can use to help keep you
healthy. However, there are certain products and services that cannot help you. People
who try to sell these are called quacks.

A. Definition of quacks and quackery

WHAT IS QUACKS
➢ A quack is a person who pretends to be educated and licensed or somehow
credentialed to be able to diagnose or treat a patient with a health problem.
➢ Ignorant pretender to medical skill.
➢ Complicates everyone's problems.
 ➢ A person who sell certain products and services that cannot help you.
WHAT IS QUACKERY
➢ dishonest practices and claims to have special knowledge and skill in some field,
typically medicine in other words the characteristic practice of quacks
B. Dangers of Quackery

Quackery can also be dangerous. Most quacks do not have the special education
and training needed in order to become doctors. They do not know how to find the causes
of diseases. They do not know to treat disease either. Supposed a person with a serious
disease such as cancer went to a quack for help. In doing this, the person might put off
seeing a real doctor and many diseases need to be treated by a real doctor right away.
They cannot be cured if treatment is put off to long.

C. Choosing Health Products and Services

Since health products and services can be useless or dangerous, you need to protect
yourself against them. Perhaps the best way to do this is to learn how to spot a quack. There
are certain questions you can ask yourself about a person to help you decide if he is a
quack.

How to spot a quack:

1. Does the person advertise in newspapers or magazines? Real doctors do not.
2. Does the person say how he makes his product or his service a secret? Good
health products and services are not secret.
3. Does the person promise a quick or easy cure? Real doctors do not make such
promises.
4. Does the person say that his product or service can cure many diseases? Most
good health products and services can cure only a few diseases.
5. Does the person say that doctors are against him or against his product or
service? If the product or service is good, doctors are for it, not against it.
“Free” offers
Be wary of “free” trial offers. The trial period will often be far too short for you to
determine whether the product makes a difference, and the promoter will probably
stick you with an excessive, non-refundable charge for shipping and handling. It may
be difficult to cancel your trial, and you may even be responsible for additional “refill”
shipments of the product if you do not, or cannot, cancel on time. Also beware of
negative option which is where the company continues to send you the product and
you are responsible to pay until you contact the company to terminate the order.
Protect yourself
- Protect your health and your pocketbook by taking the following precautions:
✓ Do not trust your health to a salesperson, ad or TV infomercial. Take the
time to find a credentialed primary health care provider that you can trust
to give you sound medical advice.
✓ Do not believe claims that a “secret” or “miracle drug” will work wonders
on a wide variety of disease.
✓ Do not buy medical devices, bracelets or other products without first
consulting your doctor or other appropriate health professional.
✓ Do not buy any product based on the seller’s claim that the purchase will
be covered by Medicare or other insurance.
✓ Always discuss your medical problems with your primary health care
provider. If you cannot get the information or help you need, you should try
to find a new provider before looking to advertisements for cures.