Consumer preference for branded medicines remains a challenge to the wider use of generic drugs in the Philippines, even as reputable pharmacies carry generics that meet quality and regulatory standards.
Rose Pharmacy General Manager Michael So said Filipinos remain largely brand-conscious, with some consumers associating a familiar brand name with greater reliability and effectiveness despite the lower cost of generic alternatives.
“To be honest, we’re still a very branded market,” So said during a press conference in Mandaue City on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
So said the hesitation toward generics is partly a matter of trust, as some consumers equate a medicine’s brand name with its quality and effectiveness.
He said Rose Pharmacy selects its generic medicines based on quality standards and considers them comparable to branded products, although he stopped short of saying they are exactly the same.
“The generic medicine that Rose Pharmacy carries are close to, I will not say equal. Because there’s no way of measuring it. It is comparable to the branded medicines,” he said.
Affordability could make generics a more practical option for patients who need long-term medication, particularly those managing their health within limited budgets, So said.
For consumers hesitant to try generics, he suggested starting with commonly used over-the-counter medicines such as generic paracetamol.
However, So warned that lower prices alone should not be treated as a guarantee of quality.
“But mind you, there are a lot of dubious generics also,” Michael said.
He urged consumers to purchase medicines from reputable pharmacies and established manufacturers.
RiteMed Operating Vice President Maria Violet Remo said manufacturers also play a key role in ensuring the quality and safety of generic medicines.
She said RiteMed conducts quality checks throughout production and distribution, including verifying manufacturing sources and conducting additional checks before products reach partner pharmacies.
“So we really have to make sure that that really should work and it’s really safe. So you can be assured that RiteMed, which is also a part of the Unilab Group, is really very particular with quality,” Remo said.
Remo also emphasized that medicines sold through pharmacies must comply with government requirements, including those of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
So said Rose Pharmacy does not carry medicines or other health products that fail to meet FDA requirements, including pharmaceutical, herbal and natural products.
The discussion also touched on the growing number of health products promoted online and through other channels, where consumers may encounter health claims without first checking whether the products are safe or properly regulated.
So and Remo urged consumers to exercise caution when purchasing medicines and health products, particularly when affordability may make patients more vulnerable to products making broad health claims.
The discussion was held alongside the launch of a RiteMed raffle promotion with Rose Pharmacy for customers in the Visayas and Mindanao.
The promotion runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. Customers receive one raffle entry for every P150 purchase of selected RiteMed products.
The raffle has 68 winners, with prizes including four Yamaha NMAX motorcycles, four iPhone 17 Pro Max units, 20 Rose Pharmacy gift cards worth P10,000 each, and 40 treatment sets and vitamins worth P5,000 each.
The raffle draw is scheduled for Dec. 10, 2026, and the promotion is available at Rose Pharmacy branches in the Visayas and Mindanao.
Photo by SBA
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