DOH LAUNCHES PHIL. GENERICS EXPO IN CLARK, PAMPANGA
The Department of Health – National Center for Pharmaceutical Access and Management (DOH-NCPAM), in partnership with SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Supermalls), will be having the Second Leg of this yearโs Philippine Generics Medicines Expo in Clark, Pampanga on September 29-30 in a joint effort to boost and sustain advocacy on quality affordable medicines through generics use and its role and importance in improving wellness and compliance of patients to treatment regimens.
โThough medicine prices are going down due to voluntary price cuts and other initiatives, we could see that quality generic medicine prices are still much cheaper. Generic medicines give patients, consumers, and different health institutions value for their money. For patients suffering from hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, generic medicines allow our patients to better comply with or maintain their daily medication needs at much less costs. Money saved can then be used for other needs of the family, so generic medicines help give hope and much healing,โ Health Secretary Enrique Ona explained.
The first Philippine Generics Expo 2010 was successfully launched in Cebu City last August 26-27. The said Expo will also be rolled out nationwide in other selected SM Malls. The public is encouraged to watch out for the schedules of these events in their locality.
SM has recently partnered with the health department and pledged to give DOH free access to its activity centers in selected SM Malls nationwide in support of health advocacies such as the promotion of generics.
The health chief elaborates, โWe would like to thank SM Prime Holdings for this opportunity to partner with them in disseminating this critical life-saving information to the public on the value of generic medicines. We aim to nourish this valuable cooperation with SM to benefit many of our people and effect a positive behavioral change. Through this Exposition, we hope to answer questions by everyone and dispel misconception on generic medicines so that we can build trust on these quality affordable products.โ
Ona disclosed that the 1988 Generics Act had achieved a lot in correcting misconceptions on generic medicines. This is evidenced by the most recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that generic medicines are now presently patronized by about 55% of the population compared to only 47% in 2003. He added that this translates to about five or six out of ten Filipinos now using generic medicines.
The latest 2008 SWS survey also revealed that more and more Filipinos are believing and benefiting from generic medicines. Data showed that people who thought that medicines are now cheaper also increased from 11% in 1999 to 42% in 2008.
For the past three years, the DOH has collaborated with different partners, pharmaceutical institutions and various stakeholders in its efforts to promote generics. This is in consonance with the countryโs global commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of developing a global partnership for development which includes cooperation with pharmaceutical companies to improve essential drug access in developing countries.
โA decade ago, quality of generic medicines was a concern. But in the past years, with compliance to current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards, we can now be assured of better quality generics in the market,โ Sec Ona explained.
Two years ago, the DOH and FDA honored some generic medicine manufacturers compliant with international standards of current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). Today, the advocacy is geared towards promoting affordable medicines made by these companies.
Among the beneficiaries of generic medicines are children living with leukemia seen in DOH hospitals. In partnership with the Cancer Warriors Foundation, 300 children with leukemia were served generic anti-cancer drugs during its pilot implementation in fourteen (14) DOH Hospitals. Without generic medicines, these would have only benefited 60 patients for the same amount due to leukemiaโs high cost of treatment.
There are generics drugs out there for the treatment of hypertension, allergy, high cholesterol, infections, and many others priced at 30-80% lower than their branded counterparts.
โLetโs remember, compliance is wellness. Generic medicines contribute immensely to health and the wellness concepts. With generic drugs, our people have better access to cheaper quality alternatives that make them attain a more beautiful and better quality of life. We can improve health outcomes on a larger scale,โ concluded Secretary Ona.
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