Half of Phl population now use generic drugs ­— DOH

MANILA, Philippines - Twenty-five years after the passage of Republic Act 6675 or the Generics Act of 1988, more than half of Filipinos are now using generic medicine, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said yesterday.

Ona told yesterday’s Generic Medicine Summit that based on the 2011 Assessment of the Cheaper Medicine Act of 2008, 55 percent of the population are now patronizing cheaper generic drugs.

He said the generic medicine awareness level of Filipinos was also high at 65 percent in greater Manila, 48 percent in Luzon, and 53 percent in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“The past experiences of commendable results could have probably contributed to confidence of more health practitioners to prescribe generics and on the part of the patients, wider acceptance,” he added.

As part of the celebration, the Department of Health (DOH) has given the “Gawad Generic Awards” to individuals who labored hard for the passage of the law.

Ona also said that before the passage of the law, Filipino-owned drug manufacturing companies accounted for only five percent of market share.

Today, 60 percent of the market is dominated by generic labels.

“Many Filipino firms were, in fact, only drug importers. Other local drug firms produced products on the basis of licensing arrangements with foreign firms who owned the patents of these products,” he added.

Ona assured the people that the government is keen on ensuring that there is a significant increase in the percentage of people that have access to equitable quality healthcare.

“Present efforts are being enhanced and even improved to make medicine available and affordable to the government and the public at all times,” he maintained.