Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association (PHAP) is a business organization, founded in 1946, that represents the providers of most of the Philippines' medicines. The members of the organization include the country's leading research-based companies and medical services, today, a total of 64 Filipino and international companies.

Mission

The organization aims to "make quality medicines and medial devices available for the Filipino people and to work together with both the healthcare professions and the government in improving the quality of life and life expectancy of all people in the Philippines" through its members.

Objectives

The following are the objectives that serve as their guidelines in achieving their aims:

• To make sure of the highest standard of quality of the manufacture and supply medicines, medical and hospital equipment, devices and supplies of their members.
• To foster a strong business ethics to their industry and all stakeholders including the whole society.
• To foster close relationship and cooperation among its members in solving problems.
• To disseminate information and develop understanding on different matters that affects the pharmaceutical and healthcare practitioners.
• To represent the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry before the Filipino people.

Programs

PHAPCares

The PHAPCares Foundation, Inc. is a private organization established by a group of pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, which were members of PHAP. It is mandated to be the social development and philanthropic arm of PHAP. It is responsible in setting up and managing the association's medicine donation program for the disadvantaged Filipinos.

Thrusts and programs

• Commitment to a free market environment - the organization demonstrated commitment in upholding a free market environment in the country.
• Partnership with public and private sectors - the organization has continuously strengthened their cooperation and partnership with both the public and the private sectors.
• BFAD - Industry partnership -the organization promotes BFAD-industry cooperation, notably an establishment of a permanent, joint working group to resolve issues and concerns that involves the regulatory matters and management systems and procedures.
• Intellectual Property Protection
• Generics Act of 1988 - the PHAP in cooperation with other concerned sectors successfully opposed the generics-only prescribing.
• Passage of RA 8203 or the Special Law on Counterfeit Medicines
• Derived Home Consumption Value for Medicine - the organization spearheaded the formulation of a derived Home Consumption Value for medicines. It rationalizes import duties during the implementation of the new HCV system in the 1990s which prevented serious distortions in the pricing of the medicines.
• Medical Representatives Accreditation Program - a major PHAP initiative which sets a standard reference and training activity.
• Diagnostic section for PHAP Member Companies
• Support for national immunization, public awareness on SARS and Avian Flu
• Participation in ASEAN harmonization system

Affiliation

The PHAP is an affiliate of two organizations with the same nature. They are both based in Geneva, Switzerland and in official relation with the World Health Organization. They were:

• International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) - an organization that represents industry associations in both developed and developing countries. Their member companies are the major global research-based pharmaceutical and vaccine companies. The PHAP is the only member in the Philippines of the organization.

• World Self Medication Industry (WSMI) - a global federation of association that represents manufacturers and distributor of non-prescription medicines.

• Marketing Executives in the Pharmaceutical Industry (MEPI)
• Pharmaceutical Executives of the Philippines (PEP)
• Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA)
• Philippine Association of Pharmacists in the Pharmaceutical Industry (PAPPI)
• Association of Pharmaceutical Trainers (APT) and
• Philippine College of Pharmaceutical Medicine which is affiliated as a society of the Philippine Medical Association

Reference

• PHAP Official Website. (Accessed on May 30, 2008)
• Pacific Bridge Medical. (Accessed on May 30, 2008)

Citation

Original content from WikiPilipinas. under GNU Free Documentation License. See full disclaimer.