Local drug makers want to raise share in gov't procurement

Local pharmaceutical manufacturers want to increase their share in medicines procured by the government to 50 percent in the next six to 10 years.

- LOUELLA DESIDERIO

Speaking at a briefing on the government’s initiatives on medical drug and device manufacturers, Philippine Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) president Higinio Porte Jr. said the group wants to increase its share in government procurement to 50 percent in the next six to 10 years from around less than five percent at present.

He said the total pharmaceutical market was valued at around P270 billion last year. “So five percent of that is what we are getting,” he said.