The Philippine Chamber of the Pharmaceutical Industry backed the formation of a government inter-agency committee on generic drugs development, saying it will help the growth of Filipino-manufactured generic drugs.
The PCPI also supported the inclusion of the Food and Drugs Administration in the proposed committee, which will be headed by the Department of Trade and Industry and composed of representatives of the Department of Health, the Intellectual Property Office, the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Finance.
The PCPI noted that the FDA “through director–general Nela Charade Puno has been leading the way in instituting reforms that will benefit the public as well as the industry.”
“The FDA will certainly be an indispensable party in the envisioned inter-agency working committee,” the PCPI said.
The PCPI called for the inclusion of a representative from the private sector in the committee.
The position of the PCPI was contained in a memorandum to the Board of Investments which could act as the secretariat of the committee.
PCPI’s position was supported by two other large industry associations—the Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association and the Chamber of the Herbal Industries of the Philippines Inc..
The proposed creation of the inter-agency committee is contained in a draft executive order prepared by the BoI. It aims to encourage the entry of more investments in generics drugs manufacturing and give Filipinos greater access to quality and more affordable generic medicines.
Based on the draft, the body will set policies and guidelines on the manufacturing of generic drugs, and maintain a database of generic drugs with their corresponding patent expiration dates.
The proposed committee is expected to drive research and development for the generic drugs manufacturing sector, and set policies that will help ensure that its human resources requirements are adequately met.
It will spearhead information and education campaigns on generic drugs. It will also review existing laws on generic drugs and incentives given to the sector “in the light of recent regional and global economic developments.”
The draft EO recognized the crucial role of the FDA in the success of the committee.