Philippines Health Secretary Seeks Cheaper-Medicines Law Changes
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
The Philippines' health authority asked Congress for more funds and manpower to enforce safety standards in the wake of a cheaper-medicines proposal about to become law. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the new law also raises the specter of a flood of cheaper medicines entering the country before the Bureau of Food and Drugs has the ability to deal with the safety issues involved. Duque appealed to Congress to drop a provision of the bill to limit doctor prescriptions to just generic drugs. Otherwise, he warned the country could be faced with ineffective drugs entering the market masquerading as brands or generics. (Click here for more