Pinas, dapat palakasin ang local medicine production-PBBM

KUMBINSIDO si Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na ang  ipinatupad na lockdowns bunsod ng COVID-19 pandemic ay dapat na nag-udyok sa Pilipinas para palakasin ang produksyon ng local medicines upang magkaroon ng sapat na stockpile sa panahon ng emergency.

“Let’s maximize the local production. The initial reason why this came up is the supply problems that we encountered during the lockdowns so we need to be prepared. We should be able to produce the local supply of essential medicines,” ang sinabi  ni Pangulong Marcos sa isang pulong kasama ang Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) healthcare sector group.

Inatasan ng Chief Executive  ang  Department of Health (DOH) at Food and Drug Administration (FDA) na makipagtulungan sa pribadong sektor para i- identify ang mga medisina na gagawin sa lokal.

“The Health department and FDA should also maximize the utilization of the capacity of local pharmaceutical manufacturers, particularly in the production of basic medications for poor Filipino patients such as anti-tuberculosis drugs,” ayon sa Punong Ehekutibo.

Imo-monitor naman ng PSAC ang mga bagong teknolohiya sa  healthcare na maaaring gamitin para sa geographically isolated at disadvantaged areas at irekumenda ang mga ito sa DOH at PhilHealth.

Pag-aaralan din nito ang feasibility ng page-establisa ng remote diagnostics centers at pag-assess  ng bagong medical technologies at halaga nito.

Itinulak din ng advisory council ang patuloy na digitalisasyon ng information systems ng FDA hanggang sa kanilang target completion sa Agosto ngayong taon.

“Once digitalized, other systems such as new chemical entity renewal, certificate of listing of the identical drug product (CLIDP), and post-marketing surveillance will follow,” dagdag  nito.

Samantala, kabilang naman sa mga dumalo sa PSAC meeting sina Sabin Aboitiz, Strategic convenor president at CEO ng Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc.; Paolo Maximo Borromeo, Healthcare lead president at  CEO ng Ayala Healthcare Holdings Inc; Fr. Nicanor Austriaco Jr., Healthcare Sector Member, at Filipino-American molecular biologist; Dr. Nicanor Montoya, Healthcare Sector Member at CEO ng Medicard Philippines, Inc.; DOH officer in charge Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, at Commission on Higher Education chairperson Prospero de Vera III. (Daris Jose)