PRESIDENT Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. is pushing for the swift production and affordability of common drugs in the Philippines. He also directed an examination of establishing so-called “pharma-zones.”
PBBM has issued a directive to expedite the process and strengthen local production of common drugs in the country to lower their prices.
This was his command during a sectoral meeting held at Malacañang on Tuesday.
Marcos also wants to speed up the registration process for common drugs.
During a press briefing at Malacañang, Food and Drug Administration Director General Samuel Zacate stated that the agency has presented proposals and recommendations to aid in fast-tracking drug registration.
Strategies include drafting guidelines, and providing local manufacturers and drug importers with specific criteria for product registration.
Zacate mentioned the extension of the validity period for the License to Operate (LTO) and Certificate of Product Registration (CPR).
‘’From the initial three years to five years renewal— now, it will be increased to five years initial and ten years renewal,’’ Dr. Zacate said.
‘’It will help further the stakeholders for the drug to further their business interest and to strengthen the drug accessibility in the country,’’ he added.
Zacate also mentioned that approval for generic drug applications will now be shortened to 45 days from the previous 120 days.
‘’I’m on the verge of signing the memorandum circular for the facilitation of FRP for generic drug – it means it will shorten the 120 days to 45 days. So, it is a matter of time that I will sign that. So the process will be faster,’’ he stated.
According to Dr. Zacate, these changes will not only assist stakeholders in advancing their business interests but will also improve the accessibility of medical drugs in the Philippines.
The FDA is also planning to implement digitalization by creating an electronic CPR service platform and restructuring fees and charges.
Meanwhile, President Marcos Jr. has instructed health officials to explore the establishment of pharmaceutical economic zones or “pharma-zones” to reduce drug prices and ensure effective regulatory processes.
According to Dr. Zacate, these zones will function as a one-stop-shop for the registration of generic medicines and antibiotics.
The FDA chief mentioned that the creation of pharma-zones will strengthen local drug production in three locations identified by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
‘’As of now, there are three main, but the other one is I think the Clark, but the two has yet to be determined by the PEZA itself because we the FDA can’t determine it. We just there to streamline the process,’’ he added.
The Philippine government is encouraging foreign and local investors to invest in the pharmaceutical sector of the country by establishing pharma-zones similar to ecozones monitored and evaluated by PEZA.
