26 July 2022
Re: PCC’s resolve to strengthen enforcement in the pharmaceutical sector
For Immediate Release

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) shares the vision of the President underscored in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) for more accessible and lower priced medicines for Filipinos by ensuring fair competition in the pharmaceutical market.

The Philippines is known to have one of the highest costs of medicines in Asia. The production of unbranded generic medicines lags behind, even among other developing countries. Thus, from its inception, the PCC has been advocating measures that will eliminate barriers to the entry and viability of generic medicines manufacturers in the country. Moreover, the Commission has been consistently monitoring and looking into curtailing possible anti-competitive situations, including cartels, that may exist in the different segments of the supply chain of pharmaceutical products.

With the President’s exhortation to achieve a level playing field and fair competition in the pharmaceutical industry, the PCC will pursue with even more resolve inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector, on top of its current efforts in this priority sector.

As such, the PCC affirms its commitment to enforce its mandate of cracking down on cartels and abusive conduct across different industries, including this sector.