The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the private sector on Thursday launched an initiative aimed at enhancing access to essential medicines in community pharmacies, particularly in underserved areas.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnessed the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies.
The initiative underscores the Administration’s commitment to ensuring Filipinos’ health and well-being.
The pilot program between government agencies and the private sector seeks to address the current shortage of about 27,500 registered pharmacists across the country, as cited by the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC).
The program aims to address the gap in the availability of registered pharmacists through flexible supervision mechanisms, including telepharmacy and video supervision.
This will enable licensed pharmacists to remotely supervise multiple community pharmacies — expanding their reach without compromising safety and quality standards.
The Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies, to be jointly implemented by the FDA, the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy (PRB-PHA), and participating private sector pharmacies, introduces a closely monitored framework that allows for regulatory flexibility while ensuring professional oversight.
Under the MOU, the FDA will provide regulatory guidance, issue necessary clearances, and oversee the compliance of participating pharmacies with Republic Act No. 10918, or the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016.
RA 10918 requires one registered pharmacist for every pharmacy.
The initiative will run from 2025 to 2027, with potential pilot areas including Caloocan, Manila, Abra, Ilocos, La Union, Camarines Sur, Quezon, Iloilo, Negros, and Misamis.
Participating in the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program are the following pharmacy chains and community-based establishments: Carlos Drugs – Lucena, Inc.; Z.C. Ramthel Corporation (Cecile’s Pharmacy); Actimed, Inc. (Generika Drugstore); Medford RX Solutions, Inc. (MedExpress Drugstore); Mercury Drug Corporation; Rose Pharmacy, Inc.; Southstar Drugstore, Inc.; Joleco Resources, Inc. (St. Joseph Drug); TGP Pharma, Inc.; and Watsons Personal Care Stores (Philippines) Inc. | PND
