The Philippine Medical Association is against the amendment to the Generics Act prohibiting doctors suggesting the brand names they believe are effective to their patients, a statement from the PMA, through its governor, Dr. Antonio Gauzon, said.

The PMA favors the Cheaper Medicine Bill, but they fear that writing only the generic will endanger their patients as some pharmacies are manned by salesgirls who lack knowledge and training, not by pharmacists.

The Cheaper Medicines Bill allows patients to buy the full course of their treatment. However, Gauzon said that according to the World Health Organization , many countries of Asia have areas where more than 30 percent of the medicines on sale can be counterfeit.

As physicians, they have to ensure that the medicines they give to their patients are effective and safe, the group said.

The Generics Act of 1988 has been lauded as an effective tool for providing cheaper, effective and safe medicines. The PMA, however, said, the Act has not been fully implemented because of an inadequate regulatory environment and lack of resources.

The problem is not the Generics Act; it is the lack of political will to implement it. There is no need to change or amend this Act, it added.

The physicians said they are concerned that the proposed amendments to the existing Generics Act found in the House version of the Cheaper Medicines Bill, might erase measures designed to ensure patients safety.

It is a known fact that some generic drug have poor quality and lack the needed efficacy, they said.

Only physicians are accountable legally, morally and ethically for the success or failure of their patient's treatment, the doctors added.*GCT

back to top