The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Competition Commission vowed to push for the development of a viable generic medicines industry in the country, not just as toll manufacturer for multinational pharmaceutical companies, but also local firms investing in generic drugs ventures, where players operate under a level playing field.
DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual said at the Post State of the Nation Address (SONA) Economic Briefing that health sciences is one of the domestic industries that he will pursue during his term and that generic medicines manufacturing may not only be encouraged for local toll manufacturers for multinational drug firms but also local pharmaceutical companies producing more generic drugs.
In a statement, PCC Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Atty. Johannes R. Bernabe said the agency shared the vision of the President in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) for more accessible and lower priced medicines for Filipinos by ensuring fair competition in the pharmaceutical market.
With the President's exhortation to achieve a level playing field and fair competition in the pharmaceutical industry, Bernabe said the PCC will pursue with even more resolve inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector, on top of its current efforts in this priority sector.
“As such, the PCC affirms its commitment to enforce its mandate of cracking down on cartels and abusive conduct across different industries, including this sector,” said Bernabe.
Bernabe noted that the Philippines is known to have one of the highest costs of medicines in Asia. The production of unbranded generic medicines lags behind, even among other developing countries.
Since its inception, Bernabe said the PCC has been advocating measures that will eliminate barriers to the entry and viability of generic medicines manufacturers in the country.
Moreover, the Commission has been consistently monitoring and looking into curtailing possible anti-competitive situations, including cartels, that may exist in the different segments of the supply chain of pharmaceutical products.