GDP share of pharmaceutical sales Philippines 2018-2024

Sales of pharmaceuticals in the Philippines have accounted for almost one percent of the country’s GDP. It was forecasted that its GDP share would minimally grow in the coming years. 

 Overview of pharmaceuticals’ production in the Philippines

Before any drugs are supplied in the market, they are formulated or manufactured in different laboratories across the country. As of 2012, there were about 16 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the CALABARZON region of the Philippines, supplying pharmaceuticals both for wholesale and retail sales. Notably, the number of pharmaceutical companies in the region has increased compared to 2006, overtaking that in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The increase in manufacturing companies in the CALABARZON region has created more jobs and employment opportunities in that region. In 2012, approximately 4.5 thousand employees were working for pharmaceutical manufacturing companies.

 Market share of licensed drugs in the Philippines 

  Drugs approved for sale by the Federal Drugs Authority in the Philippines are segmented into three types: licensed drugs that make up the pharmaceutical market or originators; branded generics; and unbranded generics. Although these drugs have the same molecule content, branded generics drugs have dominated the market, accounting for more than 71 percent of the pharmaceutical market's total sales in the Philippines.