The country spent around US$2.58bn on pharmaceuticals in 2009, up by over 200% compared to 2003, illustrating the growingstrength of the market.

The Philippines per-capita drug expenditure of US$28.8 in 2009 was above that of its immediate neighbours but only a fraction of the regions leading market, Japan.

The country is heavily reliant on foreign drugs, which account for around 75% of the market by value, despite the fact that counterfeiting is a significant problem.

Leading domestic firm United Laboratories

(Unilab) controls about 80% of the local generics market. Pfizer is the leading multinational

The Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act originally introduced in 1963 and heavily revised in subsequent years (most significantly after the 1986 fall of the Marcos dictatorship) provides the main regulatory framework.

The Philippines Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) was formed after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act 9711 a consolidation of Senate Bill 2645 and House Bill 3293 into law in August 2009. The new regulatory body replaces the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), under the auspices of the Department of Health.

In 2003, the Philippines Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Association (PHAP) created its own regulations for pharmaceutical promotion, contained in the Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices.

The governments administrative order (AO) No. 85 permits the state-run Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to parallel import (PI) branded, off-patent pharmaceuticals from India.

The AO No. 2005-0001 eliminated both patent linkage between patents in the country and the generic drug approval process from BFADs responsibilities. The move has effectively allowed BFAD to accept product registration applications without the need to verify if the product is under patent

protection. Moreover, BFAD is also exempt from validating a known patent.

Material necessary for the first 12 months of promotion must include the following: The brand or generic name of the product; Product description; Dosage quantities and forms; Manufacturers name and address; Clinical information, including precautions and warnings; Storage conditions. After the initial 12-month period, only the following information is required

on promotional material: dosage quantities and forms; indications for use; route of administration;

precautions, warnings and adverse effects; and contraindications. The governments administrative order (AO) No. 85 permits the state-run

The 1988 Generics Act has made little positive impact on the generics market. The generic drug sales accounted for only 10% of the countrys medicine market. Highly-priced branded drugs enjoy significant market share due to their strong marketing power.

In June 2008, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 (previously known as the Cheaper Medicines Bill), which aimed to increase the use of affordable generic medicines while simultaneously reducing reliance on foreign patented medicines. Specifically, legislation stipulates that pharmaceutical companies cannot apply for patents based on newly discovered uses of a known drug.

The Botika ng Bayan (BNB) outlets, which are government-licensed stores that sell cheaper medicines to those on low incomes. In 2010 there are more than 15,000 BNBs which are operational by 2010, and there is a significant increase on the current figure of 11,000. Local manufacturers of generic drugs such as Unilabwill also see an upside, primarilydue to more government orders for their products.

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ABBOTT LABORATORIES, INC.

AMBER PACKAGING CORPORATION

APO INTERNATIONAL MARKETING CORPORATION

ASHFORD LABORATORIES, INC.

ASTRAZENECA PHARM. (PHILS.), INC.

BAXTER HEALTHCARE PHILS., INC.

BAYER PHILIPPINES, INC.

CATALENT PHARMA SOLUTIONSCLARKCHEM INC.

E.L. LABORATORIES, INC.EDWARD KELLER PHILS. INC.

ELI-LILLY (PHILS.), INC

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FlexoManufacturing Corp.

FOLARES PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

GDL Capsule Phil., Inc.

GLAXOSMITHKLINE BEECHAM

GX INTERNATIONAL INC.

HIZON LABS. INC.

INTERCHEMEX INTERNATIONAL

INTERPHIL LABS. INC.

JANSSEN PHARMACEUTICA

LA CROESUS PHARMA. INC.

LEJAL LABORATORIES, INC.

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MEAD JOHNSON PHILS.

METROLAB SARALEE COMPANY

MORISHITA-SEGGS PHARMA.

NATRAPHARM, INC.

NETPAK PHILS. INC.

NOVARTIS HEALTHCARE PHILS.

PASCUAL LABS.

PFIZER INC.

PHARMATRIX CORPORATION

PHILMED LABORATORIES, INC.

PHOENIX PHARMA

Premier Creative Packaging Inc.

RECKITT BENCKISER HEALTHCARE PHILS.

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ROCHE PHILS.

SAN MIGUEL PACKAGING PRODUCTSSANOFI-AVENTIS

SCHERING PLOUGH CORP.

SHIMADZU PHILS. CORP.

SOLVAY PHARMA

SWISS PHARMA RESEARCH LABS.,INC.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals

TELSTAR MFTG. CORP.

THEO-PAM TRADING CORPORATIONUNIMEX INC.

WYETH PHILS.

YSS LABS. CO. INC.

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Health Tips

Simple tips to prevent Childhood Obesity

It is good to see our kids looking healthy and fat.

But parents should control their eating as overweight can result to heart problems, high blood pressure and other conditions.

Tips to prevent obesity in children:

Show a good example.Parents should be good examples in terms of lifestyle and healthy eating.

Spare time to exercise.Discover your childrens preferred activities and

interests that will burn calories and do this with them on a regular basis. Running, swimming, biking, walking or jogging are good options.

Read more > > >

https://www.mercurydrug.com/content-index.htmlhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/aboutus/index.htmlhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/cgi-bin/storelocation.pyhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/orderonline/index.htmlhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/sukicard/index.htmlhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/doctalk/index.htmlhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/promos/giftcertificate.htmlhttp://www.rcbc.com/news_article0013.phphttp://www.citibank.com.ph/PHGCB/APPS/portal/loadPage.do?tabNo=3&path=/prod/det/cc_over_mercury.htmhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/cgi-bin/fclinic.pyhttps://www.mercurydrug.com/healthtips/index.html

The company began in 1945 with a single store

owned by Mariano Que. He named it after Mercury,

the messenger of the gods inRoman

mythology and whose staff, the caduceus, is

sometimes used as a symbol of medicine.

A blister pack sold by "tingi-tingi" (individual

pieces).

In 1945, Mercury Drug cut packaged bulk items

into single pieces and began to sell them

individually. This practise is colloquially called

"tingi-tingi" in Filipino.

In 1963, upon the invitation of Ayala Corporation,

Mercury Drug opened its second branch in May

1963 at a developing commercial center

in Makati (now known as the Ayala Center).

In 1965, Mercury Drug established its landmark

branch in Quiapo, Manila.

Mariano Que now has a new building, MDC100.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury_(mythology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_mythologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medicinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blister_packhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tingi-tingi&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tingi-tingi&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tingi-tingi&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayala_Corporationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayala_Centerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayala_Centerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiapo,_Manilahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiapo,_Manilahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Predni.jpg

It introduced many "firsts" in the Philippine drugstore industry:

1948: Motorized customer delivery service

1952: 17-hour, 7 days a week drugstore service

1963: Self-service drugstore 1965: 24-hours, 7 days a week

service 1967: Computerized temperature-

controlled central warehouse 1969: Biological refrigerators to

preserve life-saving medicines 1976: Expansion

throughout Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24/7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24/7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24/7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luzonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visayashttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindanaohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindanao

Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Mercury Group of Companies, Inc.

Incorporated: 1945

Employees: 7,000

Sales: PHP 42.98 billion ($8.8 billion) (2003 est.)

NAIC: 446110 Pharmacies and Drug Stores

Mercury Drug Corporation is the Philippines' dominant pharmacy

group. The Quezon City-based company operates a national chain

of more than 450 drugstores, including company-owned and

franchised stores. Mercury Drug is estimated to sell as much as 60

percent of all medicines sold each year in the Philippines (the

country's hospitals sell about 12 percent of medicines). Mercury

Drug's pharmacies follow the American model, combining drug and

medical equipment sales with over-the-counter medicines, personal

care items, basic household needs, cosmetics and other beauty

products, and the like. Most of the company's stores also are

equipped to store and sell serums, blood plasma, albumin, and

similar biologically active medical products. In addition to its

drugstores, Mercury operates a chain of Mercury Drug Superstores.

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