DOH Celebrates Generics Awareness Month 2021

The Department of Health (DOH) leads the celebration of this year’s Generics Awareness Month with the theme: “Paigtingin ang Suplay, Generics Gawing Abot Kamay.”

Celebrated every September of the year, this is the 33rd year of the passing of the Generics Act of 1988.

This year’s celebration is centered on giving to aware the public on local and global directions and efforts of both the government and private sectors to increase the capacity of the pharmaceutical industry to provide
generic medicines to the public, even more so for medicines that are essential during this COVID-19 pandemic.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III that they are campaigning for the strengthening of the local capacity for manufacturing supply of generics in the country.

“As we commemorate the signing of the Generics Act, we advocate for the strengthening of the local capacity for manufacturing supply of generics to contribute to the achievement of the global goal of ensuring an adequate, equitable, affordable, and efficient supply of health goods, particularly those needed to respond to public health threats and emergencies,” Duque said.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) pledge their support on the manufacturing, merchandising, and promotion of generic medicines in the Philippines.

WHO Country Representative to the Philippines Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said that medicines are important for health with generic medicine, everyone gets access to essential medicines.

“Essential medicines can save lives, reduce suffering, and improve health. But in order to do so, they must be available and affordable, of good quality, and be used properly. The promotion of generic medicines has been an important strategy to improve medicine access,” said Abeyasinghe.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said that amidst the pandemic, he calls on the support of all concerned sectors to provide cheaper and effective medicines to our marginalized sector.

“With the cooperation of all sectors concerned, our generics industry will be able to contribute significantly to the health and recovery needs, especially of the marginalized sectors. By working on our capacity to locally produce drugs including vaccines, we can create a resilient and pandemic-proof health system,” said  Lopez. (ASC)