After three long years and five virtual policy dialogues, the Department of Health (DOH), its partner agencies and offices and the patient support groups and civil society organizations finally convened again face to face during the 16th Policy Dialogue on Universal Healthcare and Access to Medicines held on June 9, 2022 at Cocoon Boutique Hotel, Quezon City.

The Department of Health-Pharmaceutical Division (DOH-PD) conducted a face-to-face Program Implementation Review (PIR) and updates on the different programs of the Pharmaceutical Division in Coron Palawan last April 26-28, 2022 after two years of restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOH Pharmaceutical Division expresses its gratitude to the leadership and concern for poor and vulnerable Filipino patients shown by President Rodrigo Duterte with the passage of two landmark Executive Orders which set maximum retail price to 120 high cost medicines.

A successful initial collaboration of the DOH Pharamceutical Division – Medical Device Unit spearheaded by Dir. Anna Melissa S. Guerrero, MD, MPH (HTA) and Dr. Constante Caluya III, MBA and their Expert Advisory Committee for medical devices and supplies led by Dr. Ronaldo H. Estacio, together with the Health Technology Assessment Division headed by Ms. Anne Julienne Genuino-Marfori, RPh, MSc and their Health Technology Assessment Council chaired by Dr. Marita V. Tolentino-Reyes.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Member States, comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, convened in a two-day online workshop to ensure fair prices and effective financing of medicines and health technologies with the aim to fortify health systems and to achieve wider Universal Health Coverage on April 6-7, 2022.