SwissCham Philippines Life Science Cluster and ARTA forge partnership to enhance healthcare accessibility
The SwissCham Philippines Life Sciences and Digital Health Innovation Cluster held a meeting with Engr. Gerald Divinagracia, Undersecretary for Operations at the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and member companies representatives like Novartis Philippines, SmedicoPhils, and Roche. The primary objective of the meeting was to share best practices as well as challenges in the health sector in the Philippines.
Key discussions focused on several important issues, including affordability and access to innovative medicines and the need for competitive procurement. Suggestions were put forward to improve the ease of doing business in medicines as well as assessing cost-effectiveness to a more comprehensive evaluation of drug efficacy and its impact on public health. Participants also underscored the importance of understanding the pharmaceutical value chain and the critical roles of the DOH, DOST, FDA and HTA in improving efficiency and accessibility.
Notable action items include recommendations for streamlining processes, enhancing transparency, and addressing delays. It was noted that the current timelines and processes could benefit from customization to better align with the specific needs of the Philippines. The SwissCham Life Science and Digital Innovation cluster also proposed workshops together with ARTA to benchmark regional best practices on health development and assessment to improve service delivery embedded in citizens charter. Looking ahead, the SwissCham Life Sciences and Digital Health Innovation Cluster will continue to engage with ARTA and other stakeholders to implement these recommendations. The focus will be on improving the clarity and efficiency of the HTA process, ultimately aiming to increase the affordability and accessibility of medicines for all Filipinos.
We encourage companies within the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and digital health sectors to become part of our Life Sciences and Digital Health Innovation Cluster. By joining, you can actively participate in and contribute to our initiatives aimed at enhancing healthcare in the Philippines. For more information on membership and how you can get involved, please contact us at [email protected].
