Pursuant to Republic Act (RA) No. 9502, otherwise known as the “Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the Advisory Council was created through the Department Personnel Order (DPO) No. 2009-5171 and DPO No. 2013-5044, to make recommendations to the Secretary of Health in appropriate measures to promote and ensure access by all Filipinos to affordable and quality essential medicines. The Advisory Council discusses issues that arise relative to intellectual property, drug price monitoring and evaluation, financing, strengthening of the Food and Drug Administration, rational use of medicines, pharmacy and healthcare professional practices, and other matters.