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Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Manila
12 March 2010
As a strong gesture of support in promoting the use of generic medicines instead of patronizing the branded medicine products, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the launching of the Department of Health’s (DOH) “Saver Generics” Mascot held at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.
The President watched the skit prepared by DOH, wherein Saver Generics won over George ‘Mamahaling Gamot’ Kalahati in a boxing match. The skit aimed to show that more people are now aware of the benefits of generic medicines.
In her message, President Arroyo proudly stated that since 2001, the country has been successful in promoting numerous health programs, especially when it comes to lowering the price of medicines. She said that the Generics Drug Law has been existing for more than 20 years now but it is only in her administration that this law became popular, that resulted to a strong reduction in the price of medicines even before the passing of the Cheaper Medicines Law in 2008.
Aside from lowering the price of medicines, President Arroyo also said that the government enhanced and developed more than 200 barangay health stations, 100 rural health units, and almost 200 small hospitals and 34 major public hospitals in the country.
The launching of “Saver Generics” Mascot also promotes wellness through the proper compliance to medicines regimen and is a reminder for the public to use medicines rationally and complete the prescribed treatment regimen. According to Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, one common malpractice is when patients stop completing antibiotics when the symptoms are gone, which leads to antibiotic resistance that pushes the doctors to prescribe more expensive antibiotics.(SNN)
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