Law Summary
Policy Basis from the Generics Act of 1988
- Encourages extensive use of drugs with generic names through rational procurement and distribution systems.
- Emphasizes the scientific basis for drug use to improve awareness among health professionals on therapeutic effectiveness.
- Essential drugs list to be prepared and regularly updated based on national health conditions and international criteria.
- Exclusive promotion of generic terminology in pharmaceutical production, marketing, and sales especially for essential drugs.
Mandatory Use of the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF) Volume I
- The PNDF Volume I is mandated as the basis for procurement of drug products by all government entities.
- This requirement builds on prior DOH regulations making PNDF use compulsory for Department of Health procurement.
- The PNDF is prepared by the National Drug Committee in consultation with experts and is updated annually.
Composition of the PNDF Volume I
- Consists of two lists:
- Core List: drugs essential for the majority, to be available at all times in appropriate dosages and quantities.
- Complementary List: drugs for rare disorders, special pharmaceutical properties, or as alternatives to Core List drugs.
Implementation Procedures
- Therapeutic Committee, Physician-in-Charge, or Procurement Officer determines which drug products and quantities to procure.
- Requisitions and purchase requests must be accompanied by a certification confirming conformity with the current PNDF Volume I.
- The Commission on Audit (COA) monitors compliance and disallows claims or disbursements for drugs not listed in the current PNDF.
- Requests for drugs not in the PNDF Volume I require written justification and approval by the Head of the National Drug Policy Office; this may involve consultation with the National Drug Committee.
Penalties and Compliance
- Violations of this Order are considered gross misconduct or conduct prejudicial to public service interests, punishable under Presidential Decree No. 807 and Civil Service Commission Memorandum Circular No. 30, 1989.
Effectivity
- The Order takes immediate effect from January 21, 1993, ensuring all government drug procurement adheres strictly to the PNDF Volume I.