Pambansang Botika opens with ₱1 medicines

Filipinos now have another option for cheaper medicines as the country’s first “Pambansang Botika” opened at the Social Security System (SSS) Diliman branch in Quezon City, offering mostly generic drugs at prices as low as ₱1.

The Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI), a government-owned corporation, said bulk purchases of medicines from India, China and the Philippines allow it to offer lower prices to consumers.

Among the medicines available are Amlodipine at ₱1 per tablet, Clopidogrel at ₱6, Losartan at ₱5, Mefenamic Acid at ₱2, Metformin at ₱1.52 and Simvastatin at ₱6.

PPPI President and CEO Maria Blanca Kim Lokin said the pharmacy will also carry vaccines, other medicines and selected medical equipment.

“May gamot, meron din tayong bakuna especially on demand. Meron po tayong mga ganyan. At the same time, meron pa po tayong mga ibang medical equipment,” Lokin said.

The Pambansang Botika is also partnering with PhilHealth’s Yakap program, allowing qualified beneficiaries to receive selected medicines for free.

SSS President Robert Joseph De Claro said the pharmacy will eventually expand to other SSS branches and will be open even to people who are not SSS members.

“The Pambansang Botika will soon expand its services by offering consultation and diagnostic services. It will help ensure accessibility, availability, and affordability of quality generic medicines,” De Claro said.

PPPI is also opening the concept to entrepreneurs through a franchise model. Lokin said franchise opportunities will be available to entrepreneurs, local government units, nongovernment organizations, cooperatives and large businesses.

“Kumikitang kabuhayan po ang botika. At the end of the day, recession proof po yan. Pag marami tayong pera, maganda ang economy, kailangan mo ng gamot. Pag mahirap ang buhay at hindi masyadong maganda ang economy, kailangan mo pa rin ng gamot,” Lokin said.

She said the franchise program could generate new businesses and jobs while expanding access to affordable medicines.

“Number one, kabuhayan. It can be their source of livelihood and because it’s a negosyo naman talaga. Pangalawa, kalusugan. Because they will now become partners of the Philippines in propagating access to affordable medicines,” she said.

Lokin described the pharmacy model as a potential game changer in the medicine market, particularly by providing consumers with more affordable generic alternatives.

PPPI is targeting an ambitious expansion to between 3,000 and 5,000 branches before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s term, with several franchise packages being offered to prospective operators.