THE Department of Health (DOH) has wrapped up its observance of the Generics Awareness Month, highlighted with the 2024 Philippine Generics Summit held last Sept. 27. The said event commemorates the 36th Anniversary of the Generics Act of 1988.
The Generics Act supports the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223) by ensuring all Filipinos have access to quality and cost-effective medicines. The DOH aims to increase demand for generic medicines as more affordable, but equal quality option to encourage patients’ complete treatment.
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Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa noted that the generic medicines dominate the Philippine pharmaceutical market by license type, with generic medicines accounting for 90 percent of sales. The secretary also said consumer preference for branded drugs and limited physician adoption hinder the wider use of generics.
“We must confront the reality that consumer preferences and physician prescribing patterns have not fully shifted in favor of generics. These are challenges we need to address head-on with renewed vigor. This summit serves as a platform to inspire more proactive collaboration to promote the use of generic medicines and ensure that no one is left behind dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas, Bawat Buhay Mahalaga,” Herbosa said.
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