Philippines drug trade group says availability of generic medicines save lives

A Filipino pharmaceutical group official has boasted that generic medicines have been saving and improving lives of patients, aiming to debunk misconceptions that generics are ineffective because they are cheap. Eufe Tantia, vice president of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, claimed that his association's member companies have engaged and invested in R&D to discover innovative medicines and provide better treatment opportunity for patients with lesser costs.

Speaking during the launching of the Philippine Generics Medicines Expo last week, Mr Tantia said that the research-based companies have produced innovations "by making changes in molecules that bring about significant changes and benefits to patients."

The country’s Department of Health in the region spearheaded the expo in SM City Davao which aimed to "boost and sustain advocacy on quality affordable medicines through generics use and its role and importance in improving wellness and compliance of patients to treatment regimens."