COST CONTAINMENT AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS 1. % of population who chose cheaper () alternatives. 2. Prices and () of essential drugs, unbranded generics vs branded generics patented brands.

E. PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT 1. % of people exercising the right of () choice

NDP Report Concludes that “The story of the landmark Philippine national Drug Policy and the ensuing generics Act of 1988 is unfinished and continues to unfold”. Despite the opposition from Doctors and transnational companies, the full impact and benefits of the program still remains to be ().

A sustained political will by the national leadership and the right combination of skill, savvy, and stamina on the part of the implementation are necessary for its full () and total success.

The Generics Law was zealously pursued. It was claimed in consideration of 70% of the Philippine population which lives below the poverty line and could hardly afford the basic necessities in life, more so, health services, including medications. With the Generics law up and about, revitalized by the former DOH Secretary ()r and with the proliferation of local generic drug companies, marketing their products in the traditional markets such as drugstores, hospitals, industrial clinics and dispensing physicians, the name of the game is quality, competitive price, better margins for the desired markets, and superb value service, over and above, normal expectations

Under the generic Prescribing Guidelines of the Generic Act of 1988, the () still retains the responsibility of determining the active ingredient of the drug for his patient and he directs how it will be used. He also retains the right to indicate his preferred brand although the patient/consumer is not obligated to choose that particular brand, especially if he cannot afford it.

The Philippine Drug Industry, until now has major () on the possible adverse effects of the generics Law particularly on the marketing of their branded drug products whose market shares are gradually being eroded by the purely Generic Drug preparations which are fast gaining a strong foothold in the market. But most certainly, the Generic the generics Act of 1988 never did and never will toll the death knell for branded drug products.

At worst, the generics Law created a() marketing system wherein branded products co-exist with the generic drug lines. The drug company, therefore, which adopts a wellbalanced () program under the present circumstances is bound to profit from the generics boom and at the same time protect the flanks of its branded drug counterparts.

The pharmaceutical industry is mandated by law to continue to provide pharmaceutical products of the highest() for the maintenance of health or prevention of diseases, likewise, to make available to physicians and allied professionals, health care products to combat diseases or at least minimize the physiological factors leading to high mortality rates.

The Philippine National Drug Policy (PNDP) and the Generics Law are here to stay, not just to save lives, but more importantly, to greatly improve the well-being of the individual, to enhance further the industry, the economy, and the overall

is often the first person to be contacted by a person with minor ailment. The pharmacist has a distinct contribution to make in assuring that self-medication achieves its greatest good and at the least possible harm through his/her explanation, advice, and warning.

Considerable attention is being given to remedy inefficiencies in the delivery and quality of health care in this country. We have seen the advent of extended health facilities, physician and pharmacy assistants, increased emphasis on health group practices,() and many funded studies or programs for delivery of health care. Currently, many people, in essence, have fit OTC drug advertising into an improved health care delivery system.

The evaluation of advertising OTC drugs carries with it the assumption that OTC drugs under () category should be available to the public. The general consensus is that the public demands the right to treat itself for minor conditions. Home remedies serve as a useful although sometimes psychological-treatment purpose. They are safe as labeled, they save the consumer money, and they lessen the burden on a low medical manpower supply. A logical increase in the usage of those products is foreseen as the education and health consciousness of the consumer continue to be upgraded. These are the general benefits of home medications.

It is helpful to examine the basic requisite for health care in a society. The infrastructure of health professionals, health products, health facilities and transportation will indicate to a great degree the level of health care available. However, () is only the first half of the equation. The second half has to do with the consumer, which is(). The consumer level of health education contributed to utilization but significantly of more importance is the consumer’s motivation in seeking health products and services and then following through with the appropriate use of these products and services. It is the consumer who has control over the act of seeking health care evaluating the advice or products offered and utilizing or rejecting the products of services received

It is evident that advertising provides the basic functions—that of helping the consumer utilize OTC drugs and to sell a product or service. An advertisement may contain some or all of the elements common to the selling functions: (1) it helps the consumers to () his problem, need, and desire; (2) it establishes the products as good (), or the manufacturer or marketer as an ()”; (3) it shows the consumer that the product can solve his problems or satisfy his (); and (4) it provides a “close” reason to () now.

It is to say that advertisement for OTC drugs carry a ()responsibility concomitant with influencing the consumer’s concept of his minor health condition and of motivating him to utilize a specific product for these conditions. Inovertly handled, it can cost the consumer his health.

Advertising OTC drugs contributes to the overall public health by providing education on minor conditions and products for their treatment, motivation for seeking treatment of these conditions, and by necessity, the accessibility of these products. The cost of this health service probably is () than it could be effectively provided by any other means. Since the primary purpose of advertisement is to sell, the emphasis is placed on motivating the consumer to buy a particular product.Advertising OTC drugs contributes to the overall public health by providing education on minor conditions and products for their treatment, motivation for seeking treatment of these conditions, and by necessity, the accessibility of these products. The cost of this health service probably is cheaper than it could be effectively provided by any other means. Since the primary purpose of advertisement is to sell, the emphasis is placed on motivating the consumer to buy a particular product.

There are definite risks of placing these functions in the hands of manufacturers and the lay public with little or no control by health professionals. The primary risk is that the educational component will be misleading or missing. Another risk is that product claims will be exaggerated or erroneous. All evidence to date suggests that ()does not contribute significantly to a “drug-orientation” and drug abuse in our society.

Drugstores traditionally have been an important source of non-prescription drugs for consumers. But since World War II, the view has developed that () drugs are safe that neither a physician nor a pharmacist’s advice and counsel are needed. These views were reinforced as non-prescription drugs have been made available in non-drugstore outlets life the groceries and supermarkets, in the more than 45,000 barangays all over the country.

Pharmacists as pointed out by (), are well-aware that non-prescription drugs can be effective pharmacologic agents. However, we also feel that the self-medicating public must understand the limits of its ability to diagnose and prescribe medications and the risks exceeding to these limits. While it is national policy to take every precaution to protect patients using prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs are treated by both patients and health professionals in too casual manner.