The Philippines is taking concrete steps to strengthen its medicine security and reduce import dependence, as key government agencies, legislators, and industry leaders commit to enhancing public-private partnerships in the pharmaceutical sector.
At a recent forum hosted by the Philippine Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries (PCPI) with the theme “Ensuring Medicine Security; Strengthening the Philippine Pharma Industry,” policymakers and stakeholders laid out strategies to bolster the country’s pharmaceutical resilience and competitiveness.
House Committee on Health Chairperson Congressman Ciriaco Gato underscored the urgency of a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society” approach to address systemic industry barriers.
“We in Congress are cognizant of the numerous concerns that plague the local pharma industry — from regulatory bottlenecks and counterfeit products to high production costs and reliance on imports,” Gato said.
“We commit to reviewing executive issuances that restrict the local industry’s ability to deliver medicines that meet the health needs of the Filipino population.”
DTI-Board of Investments Executive Director Corazon Dichosa presented data showing both opportunity and imbalance. The local pharmaceutical market, valued at US$4.5 billion and projected to grow 4.1% annually until 2029, remains heavily import-dependent—with only 46 local manufacturers compared to 650 importers, and almost no exports.
The vulnerability of this setup became evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when global supply disruptions exposed the risks of import reliance.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Dr. Paolo Teston framed medicine security as a matter of national resilience, not just health policy.
“Medicine security is not only a public health concern but a matter of national resilience,” Teston said. “Ensuring access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines is as critical as safeguarding our food supply or borders.”
Teston assured that the FDA is streamlining regulatory processes through digitalization, reliance mechanisms, and additional staffing to reduce application backlogs—while maintaining the highest safety and quality standards.
For the private sector, PCPI President Dr. Lloyd Balajadia reaffirmed the industry’s commitment to support government reforms, emphasizing that collaboration is the key to long-term success.
“Only public-private partnership can drive progress—and with renewed leadership and shared goals, it’s possible,” he said.
Balajadia also linked pharmaceutical development to economic diplomacy, suggesting that the Philippines could leverage Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) to enter ASEAN and other global markets, transforming the country from an import-dependent player into a regional pharmaceutical hub.
“In the same way Filipino nurses elevate our image abroad, the local healthcare and pharma industries can also become powerful tools for economic growth and diplomacy,” he added.
As the largest association of Filipino-owned pharmaceutical firms, PCPI continues to lead discussions on developing a robust, innovation-driven local pharmaceutical industry—ensuring that future health crises will find the Philippines more self-reliant, resilient, and ready.