Critical analysis of government’s regulatory program on pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract

In general, this thesis looks into the effectiveness of government’s regulatory program on pharmaceutical industry in the Philippines, particularly on addressing the problem of high-priced drugs. It tackles and analyzes the real condition of the pharmaceutical industry in our country, by discussing the current drug situation. It looks into the information of the industry’s environment and how it is regulated by the government. It details the processes involved with drug pricing in the county, and enumerates different programs and strategies implemented in improving the access to essential drugs. It provides discussion of government’s regulatory program and how successful or unsuccessful it has been. In relation to this, this thesis elaborates on the pricing structure adapted by the pharmaceutical companies in the Philippines. Furthermore, the readers will gain a general understanding on the reasons why prices in the Philippines are higher than in other countries, and what actions were made to fight this.

A background of the study tracing the development of the drug industry in the Philippines and the events that happened so far with regards to the industry were presented. This will be relevant to have a thorough knowledge on the topic being discussed.

Interviews with some of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the country and some officials provide the perceptions of various stakeholders on the government’s regulatory program. Also, a survey is conducted to gather data on the perceptions of the consumers regarding the prices of drugs and the government’s effort in regulating these prices.