The Marcos administration on Thursday launched a pilot program aimed at expanding access to essential medicines in underserved communities by allowing more flexible supervision of pharmacies through telepharmacy and remote oversight.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies, a partnership involving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and major private pharmacy chains.
The initiative is designed to address a nationwide shortage of licensed pharmacists, estimated at about 27,500 by the Private Sector Advisory Council.
Under the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016, every pharmacy is required to have a registered pharmacist on-site, a standard many community drugstores in rural areas struggle to meet.
The pilot will allow licensed pharmacists to supervise multiple community pharmacies remotely using digital platforms such as telepharmacy and video monitoring.
Officials emphasized that while regulatory flexibility will be introduced, strict professional standards and patient safety protocols will remain in place.
The FDA will provide regulatory guidance and monitor compliance, while the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy will ensure adherence to ethical and professional standards.
The program will run from 2025 to 2027 in selected areas, including Caloocan, Manila, Abra, Ilocos, La Union, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Iloilo, Negros, and Misamis.
Officials said the pilot could pave the way for modernized pharmacy services nationwide, leveraging technology to improve healthcare delivery without compromising public safety.
If successful, the model could be expanded to cover more localities facing health workforce shortages.
