MANILA — The Philippine Pharma Procurement, Inc. (PPPI) has opened the country’s first "Pambansang Botika" at the SSS Diliman branch in Quezon City, offering mostly generic medicines at more affordable prices.
PPPI President and CEO Maria Blanca Kim Lokin said the agency buys medicines in bulk from India, China, and the Philippines which helps them lower the prices of medicines.
“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.
Some of the low-priced medicines are Amlodipine which costs P1 each, Clopidogrel P6, Erythromycin P, Losartan P5, Mefenamic Acid P2, Metformin P1.52, Simvastatin P6, among many others.
"Pambansang Botika" is also in partnership with PhilHealth’s Yakap program which gives select medicines for free.
PPPI plans to expand the drug stores to more SSS branches as well as to other areas. SSS President Robert Joseph De Claro said they are also working to put more branches in other SSS locations and it will be open even to non-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 added.
Another way to expand is through a franchise business model. Lokin said the new state-owned pharmacy is open for franchise and open to all entrepreneurs, local government units, non-government organizations, cooperatives, and even big 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.
Lokin added that the franchise model would help not just the healthcare sector, but the economy as well as there will be more business opportunities that can also create jobs. She said the pharmacy business is a game changer as it will break the monopoly of high prices of 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 hopes to reach 3,000 to 5,000 branches before the end of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s term. They are offering several franchising packages to those who want to start a business.
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