R.A. 6675

• To ensure the adequate supply of drugs with generic names at the lowest possible cost and endeavor to make them available for free to indigent patients.

Generic Terminology shall exclusively be used in the manufacture, marketing and sales of drugs and medicines particularly those in the essential drug list. The said practice shall be promoted through a system of incentives.

1. Active ingredient - is the chemical component responsible for the claimed therapeutic effect of the pharmaceutical product.

2. Chemical name - is the description of the chemical structure of the drugs and medicine and serves as the complete identification of the compound.

3. Drug product - is the finished product formed that contains the active ingredients generally but not necessarily in association with inactive ingredients.

4. Drug establishment - is any organization or company involved in the manufacture, importation, repacking and/or distribution of drugs or medicines.

Generic Terminology

5. Drug outlets - means drugstore, pharmacist and any other business establishment which sell drugs or medicine.

7. Core list - is the list of drugs that meet the health care needs hundred eighty days upon the approval of this act.

6. Essential drug list or National Drug Formullary

- is a list of drugs prepared and periodically updated by the department of health on the basis of health conditions obtaining in the Philippines as well as in the internationally accepted criteria. It shall consist of a core list or a complimentary list.

8. Complimentary list - is a list of alternative drugs used wherein no response to the core essential drug or where there is hypersensitivity reaction to the core essential drug or when for one reason or another the core essential drug cannot be given.

9. Brand name - is the proprietary name given by the manufacture to distinguish its product from those of competitors.

10. Generic drugs - are not covered by the patent protection and which are labeled solely by their international non proprietary or generic name.

-is the identification of drugs and medicines by their scientifically and internationally recognized active ingredients of by their generic names as determined by the Bureau of Food and Drugs of the department of health.

Statement of Policy

• To promote, encourage and require the use of generic terminology in the importation, manufacture, distribution, marketing, advertising, promotion and dispensing of drugs

• To encourage the extensive use of drugs with generic names through rational system of procurement and distribution.

3. All organizations of companies involved in the manufacture, importation, repacking, marketing and/ or distribution of drugs and medicines shall indicate prominently the generic name of the product. The generic name shall appear prominently and immediately above the brand name in all product labels as well as in advertising and other promotional materials.

The people / personnel who shall use generic terminology:

1. All government agencies and thir personnel shall use generic terminology in all transactions related to purchasing, prescribing, dispensing and administering of drugs and medicines.

Drug outlets shall inform any buyer about all other drug products which have the same generic name and their corresponding prices so that the buyer may adequately exercise his right to choose. They shall post inconspicuous places in their establishment, a list of drug products with the same generic name and their corresponding prices.

The Generics Act

2. All medical, dental, veterinary, and private practitioners shall write prescriptions using the generic name. The brand name may be included if so desired.

The quality of generically labeled drugs and medicines shall be duly certified by DOH.

To ensure drug quality, the label of all drugs and medicines shall have the following:

Every drug manufacturing company operating in the Philippines shall be required to produce, distribute and make available to the general public the medicine it produces in the form of generic drugs.

1. Name and Country of Manufacturer.

2. Date of Manufacture.

DOH is authorized to import raw materials of which there is a shortage for the use of filipino-owned or controlled drug establishment to be marketed and soled exclusively under generic nomenclature.

The DOH together with the Department of Education, Philippine information agency and the department of interior and local government shall conduct a continues information campaign for the public and a continuing education and training for the medical and allied medical professions on drugs with equal efficacy as alternative to the more expensive brand name drugs. The educational campaign shall include information on the illness or the symptoms which each generically named drug is supposed to cure or alleviate as well as its contradictions.

The President may authorize the importation of raw materials, tax and duty free. The secretary of DOH shall ensure the imported raw materials are allocated fairly and efficiently among filipino-owned or controlled drug establishment.

Penalty for medical practitioners who violate R.A. 6675

Firs conviction - reprimand, officially recorder by the PRC.

Second conviction - fine of NLT 2,000php and NMT 5,000php

Third conviction - fine of NLT 5,000php and NMT 10,000php and suspension of license to practice for 30 days.

Fourth conviction - fine of NLT 10,000php and suspension of license for 30 days.

Generics Act is working for quality and affordable medicines.

Access to medicines is a fundamental element of the right to health. But for many filipinos, access to affordable public health care and quality and affordable medicines remain elusive. The Generics Act was enacted with the vision to keep solution to this problem.

DOH shall publish annually in at least two news papers of general circulation in the Philippines the generic names and the corresponding brand names under which they are marketed of all drugs and medicines available in the Philippines.

"An act to promote, require and ensure the production of an adequate supply, distribution, use and acceptance of drugs and medicines identified by their generic names."

R.A. 6675