The Generics Expo in
Region 8 is the highlight of the month-long celebration of September
as the Generics Awareness Month which has for its theme “GENERICS para
sa Kalusugan, gamot Pangkalahatan, mag-GENERICS na,” Director Gonzaga
said.
The Generics Expo will
start with a Motorcade along the major thoroughfares of Tacloban City
and back to the venue This will be attended by Municipal, City and
Provincial Health Officers, PITACH Drug Manufacturing Exhibitor,
pharmacists, drug owners, the Department of Education, School
Administrators and the Philippine Information Agency.
The Drug Product
Exhibitors will also be invited to join this big day to introduce
their products to the clients, Director Gonzaga added.
The Generics Act of
1988 or Republic Act No. 6675 otherwise known as Generics Law was
promulgated in order to answer the out of pocket budget of most of the
Filipinos both the affluent and less affluent.
The mainstream
features of generic drugs are quality, affordability, accessibility,
availability and bioavailability.
Though medicine prices
are going down due to voluntary price cuts and other initiatives, we
could see that quality generic medicine prices are still much cheaper.
Generic medicines give patients, consumers, and different health
institutions value for their money, the DOH Director added.
For patients suffering
from hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases, generic
medicines allow our patients to better comply with or maintain their
daily medication needs at much less costs.
Money saved can
then be used for other needs of the family, so generic medicines help
give hope and much healing, Dir. Gonzaga said.
