DOH HOLDS FIRST PHILIPPINE GENERICS EXPO

From: DOH WebPage

The fight against high-priced medicines continues.

In line with the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Act, the Department of Health, together with its partner agencies, the World Health Organization, the Philippine Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industries, the Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines, GTZ, and PITC-Pharma today host the first ever Philippine Generics Expo in Megatrade Hall 1, 5th floor SM Mega Mall, September 25-26, 2009. It is also being held in celebration of the Generics Awareness Month this September. The Expo highlights quality generic medicine companies and their products which people can buy during the two-day event.

“Generic medicines have been our unsung heroes in the fight against costly, expensive, abusively- priced medicines. All these years, these generic medicine companies have competed against their high-priced innovator counterparts. Such competition has forced some of these high-priced medicine prices to go down to more affordable levels, just as it has further improved the quality of generic medicines through the years. If more and more doctors prescribe generic medicines and more and more people use generic medicines, these offer more competition to further force medicine prices to go down,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque III says.

“As a matter of fact, 5 to 6 of 10 Filipinos are indeed using generic medicines now. This emerging generation of wise consumers is surely increasing and it has caused the reduction of many medicine prices already such as of simvastatin, paracetamol, amoxicillin, and many, many more medicines for a variety of diseases. This is why our theme for this year’s Generics Awareness month celebration is “We Love Generics: Join our Generation!,” Duque added.

Further, to show the benefits of generics, the DOH also signs today an agreement with the Cancer Warriors Foundation to invest 20 Million pesos for the purchase of generic anti-cancer medications that is earmarked to benefit children with leukemia. These medicines that would have benefited only a few patients for the same amount due to the high costs of treatment can now help hundreds of leaukemic patients. The medicines are purchased through PITC-Pharma and are 2 to 5 times cheaper than the innovator counterparts but are of excellent quality.

“We love generics because they have always been in the forefront of our fight against expensive healthcare. Many children with cancer die every day because they cannot afford their medication. Hopefully, we see the heroism of generics through the lives of these children we save,” Duque stresses.

Secretary Duque elaborates that even in the midst of the policies recently adopted to make medicines more accessible to all, such as the imposition of ceiling prices for medicines, generic medicines still give much affordable price and much more savings.

A commissioned study recently done by the DOH and the DTI revealed that generic medicines can be up to 80% cheaper than their innovator counterparts.

The Expo also offers free medical consultation, surprise guests, prizes and giveaways to lucky winners, and many more. Concurrently, a current good manufacturing practice workshop shall be conducted to highlight how generic medicine companies in the Philippines have complied with international standards of quality. Thus, quality of generic medicines has greatly improved.

“We remain relentless in our pursuit for quality affordable medicines for all. And we invite all our people to join us in the fight, to join us in Generation Generics!” Duque concluded.

DOH LEADS NATIONAL DISABILITY SUMMIT

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/24 September 2009

The Department of Health and the National Council on Disability Affairs today opened a two-day National Disability Summit at the Manila Pavilion Hotel in order to build a consensus among all stakeholders to establish high-impact national framework on disability.

The said National Summit is also the country's response to the ratification of the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities held last 15 April 2008.

This year's theme, "Accessibility and Inclusive Development For All", highlights the need to formulate a coherent national strategy that will guide the implementation of disability programs from a rights-based perspective.

It is a high time that we coordinate and sustain all our efforts and integrate Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) into the mainstream of society," Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said. Duque stressed that PWDs should be given equal opprotunities, especially in the areas of livelihood and employment.

The Objectives of the National Disability Summit is to establish baseline and benchmarks on disability, through the conduct of consultative symposia with stakeholders, respond to the needs of national government agencies and local government units on how to mainstream disability in their plan of actions, programs, and budgetary processes.

The Summit also aims to identify support links and partnerships (vertical and horizontal) and to improve the delivery of services meant to empower PWDs as members of the community.

Some of the interesting topics to be discussed in the summit include mainstreaming disability in development (global, regional, and national perspectives), disability and public health, disability and health financing livelihood opportunities for PWD entrepreneurs, linking informal education to livelihood opportunities for PWDs, and sound practices in making public transportation accessible.

"Together we can achieve more. Let us make our country PWD- friendly," Duque concluded.

DOH, UNFPA, UNICEF, & WHO JOIN TO REDUCE MATERNAL & NEONATAL DEATHS IN RP

From: DOH WebPage

The Department of Health (DOH) today announced that the three United Nations (UN) agencies – the United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Children’s Fund, and the World Health Organization have joined forces and resources to undertake a joint program on rapidly reducing maternal and neonatal deaths in the country and meet the Millennium Development Goals.

“This is a very welcome development and I am very glad that the Philippines will benefit from this multi-UN agencies collaborative effort”, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.

The Philippines is among the countries which contribute to the high percentage of maternal and neonatal deaths worldwide. According to the 2006 Family Planning Survey, the maternal mortality ratio was pegged at 162 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

“This joint undertaking focuses on accelerating our efforts to attain the targets of MDG #5, which is the reduction of maternal mortality ratio by 75% and the universal access to reproductive health services by 2015, and MDG #4 which is the reduction of the neonatal mortality rate”, Duque declared adding that this initiative will also attain the results desired by the National Maternal, Neonatal, Child Health & Nutrition strategy.

The health chief also said that, with the new project, people can expect better health services as each UN agency will be able to assist the government by pooling procurement, sharing costs in service delivery, common equipment, training of healthworkers, and monitoring and evaluation.

The new project, with the support of the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) is divided into two significant phases: the Transition period (2009-2011) which will cover the provinces of Eastern Samar, Ifugao, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, North Cotabato, and Saranggani, and the urban poor areas in Tacloban, General Santos, Taguig, Navotas, Parañaque and Makati; and the Full Operationalization Period covering the years 2011-2016.

To seal the partnerships of the three UN agencies, the DOH, and AusAID, a document was signed by the heads of the respective agencies.

“Through this Joint Programme, we will ensure that a coordinated technical and management support from the three UN agencies will be available to operationalize the government-led strategy of averting maternal & newborn deaths in agreed priority sites where UN assistance is needed”, Duque concluded.

DUQUE COMMENDED TASK FORCE H1N1 FOR JOB WELL DONE

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III convened the 3rd Command Conference on Influenza A (H1N1) to update everyone on the current situation and to review all collective response against the disease. During the said meeting, Duque commended all members of Task Force A (H1N1) for working accurately and diligently in monitoring the behavior of the virus and mitigate its health and socioeconomic impact to the country, as well as prepare for any resurgence. (16 September 2009)

MDRP SPOT CHECK

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III conducting a spot visit on Accuhealth Pharmacy to check if such establishment is complying with the September 15 deadline of small drug stores to implement the government’s Maximum Drug Retail Price program. Duque stressed that all drug stores, big or small, should now comply or face sanction. (15, September 2009)

DUQUE TOPS LATEST PULSE ASIA SURVEY AMONG CABINET MEMBERS

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/11 September 2009

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III topped anew in a survey involving public approval among Cabinet members.

In the Pulse Asia survey conducted in July and August this year, Secretary Duque was given a 51% approval rating by the public.

“This is very flattering considering that I was only doing my job, which is to always make sure that the health of the public is always guarded against all kinds of diseases, whether the emerging or the endemic ones. I have to stress, however, that I am not alone in all these endeavors because behind me is the most committed and tireless health workforce,” Secretary Duque said.

Meanwhile, in the June 2009 Social Weather Stations survey, Secretary Duque also led other Cabinet members with a 51% public satisfaction rating. Following him are former NEDA Secretary Ralph Recto, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus, and Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral.

The SWS survey explained that the high rating of 51% means that about half of Filipinos who are aware of Secretary Duque are satisfied with his performance at the Department of Health. The SWS further said that net-wise, Secretary Duque’s latest rating is the highest since he took office in June 2005.
“I am truly very grateful to the people for the high marks they gave in recent surveys regarding our efforts and capability in addressing health threats and raising public awareness on these threats.
In the most recent Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) report card released this August the leadership of Secretary Duque was recognized anew for his efforts in fighting graft and corruption.

“I am very proud that the PAGC recognized again the DOH as Number One among 109 government agencies in terms of compliance with the requirements of the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP) for the first half of the year. We are grateful because we work hard to keep our records clean and graft-free to curb graft problems within the agency,” Secretary Duque.

Secretary Duque said that with a committed, dedicated and steadfast health workforce it is no wonder that the DOH consistently leads in integrity and high approval ratings by the Filipino public.

DALAW BARANGAY NI DUQUE KONTRA DENGUE

From: DOH WebPage

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III strongly advises residents to get rid of used tires placed on their house roofs as these are perfect breeding grounds for dengue-carrying Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes. Duque also visited a mother whose daughter died of dengue in Barangay Tandang Sora in Quezon City. Presently, clustering of cases was noted in Barangays Commonwealth and Tandang Sora, both in Quezon City. To prevent dengue, Duque urged residents to cover all water containers, replace waters in flower vases daily, regularly clean roof gutters, discard softdrink bottles, empty cans, and all receptacles which may serve as mosquito breeding sites as dengue is now an all-year occurrence due to climate change.

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (14th Batch)

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (13th Batch)

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (12th Batch)

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (11th Batch)

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (10th Batch)

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (9th Batch)

DOH #1 IN FIGHTING GRAFT & CORRUPTION FOR JAN-JUN 2009 – PAGC

From: DOH WebPage

Press Release/1 September 2009

The Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC) recognized this August the Department of Health (DOH) anew for its efforts in fighting graft and corruption.

“We are very proud to be ranked by the PAGC as Number One among 109 government agencies in terms of compliance with the requirements of the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP) for the first half of the year. We work hard to keep our records clean and graft-free so, we are very grateful that our efforts in curbing this problem are being appreciated again by PAGC just like the previous years,” Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said.

Duque said that to be recognized by PAGC, a government agency has to pass its 20 or more criteria (decisive factors) and went on to note that the health department has always been consistently supportive of the national government’s endeavors in fighting graft and corruption in all levels of its operations.

“We are not actually just being compliant with all the directives of governing bodies like the PAGC and the Office of the Ombudsman (OMB), we also implemented and institutionalized several preventive initiatives on graft and corruption,” Duque said.

Duque said that in the spirit of transparency, the DOH created and institutionalized its own Integrity Development Committee which formulated and implemented its IDAP based on the PAGC and OMB templates. He added that the DOH has also adopted a Code of Conduct using the existing laws and regulations in fighting graft and corruption in the government service as reference.

“We also have formulated, implemented and institutionalized a Moral Renewal Action Plan (MRAP) that aims to promote spiritual, moral and ethical standards among DOH employees and boost their integrity stocks,” Duque explained, adding that the DOH also even signed a pledge of commitment with the United Nation Convention Against Corruption.

The health chief said that because of the health department’s diligence in fighting these problems, the PAGC, OMB and other survey bodies have consistently ranked the DOH as either No. 1 or 2 among other national agencies when it comes to addressing graft and corruption.

“We are committed to make these problems go away for good and with the dedicated and steadfast health workforce that we have, it will just be a matter of time,” Duque assured.

REDPMS/eEDPMS TRAINING (8th Batch)