Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Secretary Frederick Go urged concerned national government agencies (NGAs) to address the “pain points” of pharmaceutical industry players and strengthen the country’s manufacturing of healthcare products.

In his speech delivered by Undersecretary Jose Edwinel Guilas, during a joint briefing of the Anti-Red Tape Authority, Department of Health, Philippine Economic Zone Authority and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Quezon City on Monday, Go urged the agencies to ease the processes for pharma players.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s economic czar mentioned that the so-called pain points for medical drug and device manufacturers are the bureaucratic nature of existing policies of regulatory agencies; difficulty in exporting and importing medicine; and the difficulty of international pharma companies in investing in the Philippines.

“Can we not consider the certificates of other countries with higher certifying standards as compliance with ours?” Go said, adding that it will also address FDA’s lack of manpower and equipment.

For import and export processes, Go said an administrative order is underway to resolve the challenge.

To ease doing business for investors, the government is eyeing an exclusive ecozone for pharma manufacturing.

“Our office, together with the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, and FDA has called a technical working group to make it easier for pharmaceutical companies to set up their operations in economic zones,” Go added. (PNA)