Marcos orders FDA to streamline PH drug application process

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to streamline the drug application and regulatory processes in the Philippines. 

This was announced by FDA director general Dr. Samuel Zacate at a Palace press briefing on Tuesday. 

''I’d like to confirm that the President has directed the Food and Drug Administration to further streamline the drug application process in the Philippines and to provide further drug accessibility for all the Filipinos, and in the future, the cheaper medicine for us to be accessible also to the Filipino people,'' Zacate said.

''As of now, in the FDA, we already had formulated several policies para po makatulong sa ating mga stakeholders, and one of that is the bible of the drug application process which is the Administrative Order No. 67,'' he added.

Zacate said this would pave the way for the application per category so that the stakeholders, the local drug manufacturers, and the drug importers will know the proper way of registering their products.

He said the goal is to provide further drug accessibility for all Filipinos.

He also said the FDA is processing the policies to extend the validation or the validity of the license to operate and the certificate of product registration from the initial three years to five years renewal.

''And now, it will be increased to five years initial and ten years renewal. It will help further the stakeholders to … the stakeholders for the drug to further their business interest and to strengthen the drug accessibility in the country,'' he said. 

The FDA chief added that he is set to sign a memorandum circular for the facilitation of generic drugs, shortening it from 120 days to 45 days.—AOL, GMA Integrated News