IPOPHL partners with pharmaceutical association for anti-counterfeiting measures
19 April 2024
Photo: PHAP joins IPOPHL in anti-counterfeiting E-Commerce MOU and promoting healthcare innovations | IPOPHL
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently teamed up with the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). This is to better safeguard the public from fake medications and create a local climate that supports more accessible, high-quality healthcare innovations.
“By creating an environment that stimulates innovation through IP, we can ensure widespread access to quality and affordable medicines for our people even as we protect IP rights from possible infringement and the public against counterfeit drugs,” said IPOPHL Director General Rowel S. Barba during the signing of the two memoranda of understanding (MOU).
Barba pointed out that the anti-counterfeiting campaign now has 37 members as a result of PHAP’s inclusion in the E-Commerce MOU. The Philippine E-Commerce MOU was established in 2021 and has allowed brand owners and online retailers Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop and Zalora to work together to monitor and remove online activities that violate the intellectual property rights of the latter.
Both sides will collaborate closely to complete the work plan and meet deadlines. In addition to providing guidelines for ethical collaboration between healthcare service and technology providers, the agreements establish a framework for knowledge-sharing on areas and topics of mutual interest, such as emerging schemes for the market distribution of counterfeit drugs and legislative measures like the Pharmaceutical Innovation Bill and the IP Code of 1997 amendments, which are essential to the objectives of both IPOPHL and PHAP.
- Excel V. Dyquiangco
