I was really pondering over this very topic for a long time now. I noticed that a lot of Pinoys will not really buy their meds at Generics drugstore. Reason being they said that they don’t trust the place, Generics pharmacy selling good medicine. They really think that those medicine that were being sold there were all fake. I was shocked with their reasoning. You know who is really the one that doesn’t believe in the pharmacy? The people that can’t even afford to buy medicine.
I was talking to a few of my previous laundry ladies and helpers, they said they needed medicine and I told them to get it at The Generics Pharmacy and even told them the nearest Generics, the location near their house. I could tell the sour faces. I asked them why they acted like that? They said their neighbors said and heard from somewhere that the medicine there were all fake and not good. I told them that we’ve been using medicine from there for a long time and we are still alive and okay. I even told them we know lots of doctors get meds from there. It’s really hard to explain to people when their mind is already made up. As if you’re talking to a concrete wall. I just continue on telling them that it’s their choice, not mine. If they have so much money to buy the branded meds then go for it. To each his one I guess.
We are buying lots of our medicine there. I was asking my family what pharmacy they’re buying their medicine from. They told me that they buy majority of their meds from Generics too and one other pharmacy that similar to Generics (I can’t remember the name of the drugstore) they sell cheaper meds also. Some medicine were not available with Generics then we’ll buy it in the other pharmacy like Amesco, HB1, Watson, Rose pharmacy and to name a few are good too. Many other good and reliable pharmacy all over the place the Philippines. Mercury is the famous one here in Davao. I was thinking they’re the first famous pharmacy in the Philippines. I just Googled the company. The largest pharmacy chain here in the Philippines. Founded in mid 1940’s.
If a person is admitted in the hospital here mostly they will give the prescription to the patient’s family and they can either buy the medicine from the pharmacy at the hospital or go out and go to the pharmacy that you are comfortable buying it from. After buying the medicine just drop the medicines at the nurses station where your patient is assigned to. You can buy plenty of over the counter medicines there. Lately all pharmacy now are asking for the prescription for all amoxicillin/penicillin products. Really too bad some people just abuse the medicines. Then they get hooked and it so hard for them to kick the habit off. Not too many rehabilitation places here in Davao for the people that get hooked. I don’t think the government will pay for it. Not even sure if PhilHealth pays for it.
Anyway, is there a Generics Pharmacy in your area? Give them a try. By the way, I’m not paid from the company. I was just thinking too many expats talking about not so much money and can’t afford to buy medicines. So why not try buying levitra at the Generics pharmacy and see for yourself.
Cheers!
Great article Feyma, My Girlfriend is a Pharmacist in the Manila area,she had mentioned to me in the past for patients to ask the Doctor for the Generic name,so whatever pharmacy people go to,the Pharmacist can see if they have any particular generic drug in stock.. Many times the Pharmacist is way to busy to look it up in the cross reference book. This is for folks who don’t go to the Generics pharmacy.
Randy S
Hi Randy – Thank you. Most drugstores here offers generic brands too. But not as cheap as the one at the Generic pharmacy.
Thank you for stopping by. Have a great day!
Since the first Generics Pharmacy appeared in my locale about 5 years ago, I’ve purchased almost all my (and everyone’s) medicines there. Exactly the same content and effect as the way-overpriced brand-names elsewhere. Never any issues. They run a good clean honest business, if I had spare cash I’d buy a franchise. Baby diapers are however cheaper at the grocery. 🙂
Hi Ed – Yep same here. As soon as we saw Generic pharmacy here in the city we started going there right away. That’s almost been a decade ago. Thank goodness diapers not needed here at the house right now. LOL
Good to see you here. Keep reading.
Have a good one!
Mrs Feyma,
Alot of medications you can buy at Generics, but my high blood pressure medicine I get at Mercury. The generic version of it is not as effective as the branded.
Hello Papaduck, are you sure about that statement (generic and name brand not the same…)
—
(Web definition: generic drug)
When the patent protection for a brand-name drug expires generic versions of the drug can be offered for sale if the FDA agrees; “generic drugs are usually cheaper than brand-name drugs”.
—
What does this mean? If it is a relatively new drug, there is NO generic version until a few years after the drug is approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration.
—
What a lot of people fail to realize is the generic and the primary drug is the exact same drug.
Just a comment on the issue of generic drugs being the same as the brand name drugs. I have been a medical provider over 35 years and have prescribed thousands of drugs, including generics as well. yes the ingredients are the same, except for the formulations. Example the FDA requires that the generic drug be at least 80% to 120% bioavailability of the parent brand name drug. you may be getting only 8o% of the parent drug. You also may get up to a 40% swing in the bioavailability as well, thus getting too much of the drug. Many times the drug is mixed with different fillers in the pills or capsules and this as well can cause problems. So for the patient that does not have quite the same control over his blood pressure or other conditions it may be due to the bioavailability issue. Yes generic drugs can give the same benefit as the parent brand, but sometimes not. If that is an issue discuss it with your medical provider. Be aware that there are some drugs that have a small therapeutic window that needs to be managed well and using a generic drug can cause some big issues with not enough or too much of a drug. I will not prescribe some drugs generically due to those issues. Would you want to take a chance on a blood thinning drug to prevent blood clots in the body, heart, lung, legs, brain etc that can cause life and death issues if not taken correctly or if the toxicity levels are too high or too low? These are some of the many medical decisions that a prescriber faces when they prescribe for a patient. If the patient wants to accept the possible ramifications and sign the chart that they do then I will prescribe a generic. Most patients decide on the parent brand name after explanation. Please due your due diligence when dealing with your own health and discuss these issues with your medical provider. rainrider9
Hahaha Papa Duck! Should stay away from those young Ducklings, maybe your blood pressure will lower all by itself! LMAO!
Hi PapaDuck – Sorry some meds didn’t work good for you. You take care.
Always good to see you here. Hello to Ann!
Good article Feyma, been wondering about that myself. Usually when I go to Walgreen’s I ask them if a generics for my prescription is available and 100% of the time it is at 1/3d the price. I’ll be doing the same there should I need any prescription. Hope they have something for Arthur itis! hahaha!
Hi Heinz – Similar here if you buy the branded one you will pay a fortune for it. So the generics really is a life saver. Oh yeah they have meds there for (Arthur itis … :-). You crack me up with that name) too. Good thing you made fun of your sickness.
Thank you for your comment. Nice to see you here!
PapaDuck and Richard – I have read in the WSJ previously, that although a generic and name brand drug may be the same, the “formulation” (mixing process) of the drug may differ. That is why a generic may not always have the same effectiveness as the name brand drug. I generally use generics, but have had the same experience as PapaDuck with certain generics. Sometimes there are multiple generics of the same drug and one can just change manufacturer.
Dan,
Thank you for clarifying that for me.
Hi Feyma
I have no problems with generic drugs.
When it comes to medicine many Filipinos are led by whatever doctors tell them and doctors get all kinds of kickbacks from drug companies, so their motives are distorted.
I guess many Filipinos might just make assumptions as well, like because the drugs are cheaper,therefore they are fake.
The margins on drugs in the Philippines are so large that old Filipino friends buy up medications in Hong Kong because it is ridiculously cheaper apparently for the same brand of drugs in Hong Kong.
How Hong Kong can be much cheaper than the Philippines on drugs blows my mind.
After all my ranting I wouldn’t question the generics in the Philippines as much as I would question the doctors drugging people to their eyeballs so they get their kickbacks.
Hi Brenton – Same with us we’ve been using Generics for a long time now and we are still alive and good. The thing that really gets me those people that don’t want to buy from Generics Pharmacy were the one that don’t have much money. Even with the aid of PhilHealth insurance the drugs still expensive.
*** The margins on drugs in the Philippines are so large that old Filipino friends buy up medications in Hong Kong because it is ridiculously cheaper apparently for the same brand of drugs in Hong Kong. *** — Is it really way cheaper there than here? Is it really worth it to go there just to buy medicines?
I’ve seen doctors have medicines for sale but luckily they’re not forcing their patients to buy medicines from them.
Thank you so much for stopping by. Have a wonderful day!
Yes Feyma, those are the same people hanging around Mercury (any Mercury anywhere) begging you to give them the money you need for your own family. They want us to pay for their exhorbidantly marked-up drugs, since after all, they can afford them whey _you_ pay for them.
As for PhilHealth, they only pay for drugs (and then not all) if you’re confined to a hospital. They also have a limit on how much they will pay. Which reminds me, Sept now, time to pay PhilHealth for another year. Still worth it especially with a large and growing family. Another note, you need to prove payment of the past 2 quarters to PhilHealth for most coverages, and the last year for pregnancy, otherwise the bill for mommy is all yours to pay, though they will cover the new baby. Rules may change too, so best to check before getting sick, pregnant, or have an accident!
Also bear in mind that there are a lot of things PhilHealth will NOT cover, for example 5000/day for blood – you go buy that with YOUR cash.
Another PhilHealth tip – if you wind up responsible tor your extended family, you may be able to get coverage for them under the government provisions for native peoples, check at the baranguay or with your mayor if you suddenly and fast need to cough up a few million pesos for people when you least expected it. Hint: it helps that they already know you and you supported them in the past.
Feyma,
Good info. I have used generics for a long time in the U.S. Matter of fact, the pharmacy I go to would ask me if I’d prefer a generic medication. In addition, the Doctor would first prescribe the generic drug if available.
All the places you mentioned in your article I go to. However, I think I tend to lean towards Watson. Just because of convenience if no other reason. I’m at the mall a lot.
Is it illegal here to receive a medication at a Pharmacy without a prescription. Sometimes I know what I need and don’t want to take the time to go to a Doctor.
Bill
Hi Bill – Same when we were there. They would ask if we want the generics or the name brand. Of course the generics it cost less.
I know what you mean, but pretty soon there might be a Generics near to your house. Some malls have the Generics pharmacy inside like Gaisano Mall. If you happen to be there just take a look its just near the grocery store and the hardware store there.
Take care & have a great day!
Generics is always opening, closing, moving outlets. Check
http://www.thegenericspharmacy.com/
for their current outlets. Their product and price list are also handy and useful.
No I don’t own a franchise, wish I did.
Awesome topic. Left a question for Feyma.
Hi Bill – I think it might be illegal. But who knows really. Theirs certain drugs that the pharmacist would not give if no prescriptions from the doctor. Definitely they would not give that even you ask and ask. But too many that you can just buy over the counter anyway that will help minor sickness.
Have a good one!
Good article Feyma,
and Bill I don’t know if it is illegal, and I don’t know about the Drug Stores in your area, but in Cebu I have not have any problems getting medications with out a Prescriptions.
I have been in the same boat as you, every year I would come down with a Upper Respiratory Infection and have to go see the doctor. About 7 years ago the doctor, here in the USA, starting giving me different things for it that didn’t work, so I started telling him to stop using me as a Ginny pig for the “new and inproved” drugs.
While in Cebu I would check and see if they had this certain drug, Amox-Clav 850, and when they did I would buy it. Now the drug cost about the same there in the Philippines as here in the USA but I didn’t need to pay the Doctor there.
Now that I have had a Gastric-Bypass I can’t take the pills, but the children’s liquid version works just nicely and is much cheaper then the adult medication.
Now unless something has changed in the Philippines in the last couple of months. These medications still are available with out a prescription.
Thank you so much James for the comment. Really just ask the pharmacist if you can buy the medicine over the counter. They will tell you right away if the medicine you’re talking about needs prescriptions. A few months ago we bought certain medicine and when we asked again a few weeks ago it requires prescription now. So in a way I’m wishing we bought a bunch then before.
Always good to see you here and thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Have a good weekend!
So it probably has changed in the last few weeks. last time my wife returned from Cebu, 4 months ago, she stocked up on some stuff she can’t get here in the USA.
thank you
I was only asked for a prescription once, back in 2001 at a Mercury in Malate (Ermita, Manila), and that was for simply amoxycilin. That may have been because they were trying to figure out what to give me. Have never been asked anywhere in Phils in my 500 or so various purchases since then.
Thank you Feyma! I just didn’t know how things operate here in the Phils. I wanted penicilin because that’s the medication I knew i needed from past experience. Paying the Doctor for something you already know you need is a waste of money, but we can say that about a lot of things in life. haha
I don’t want to get on the wrong side of the street so I’ll continue paying the extra cost. I have no choice. haha
Nice article! Thank you!
Bill, you can’t be on the “wrong side of the street” by asking and being permitted to buy without question the medication you need. No problem. Generally if it’s on the pharmacy’s list of available medications (huge list of antibiotics), ask, buy, inom yan, be healthy, each time saving enough money for a night out or a great home meal for the family plus katulong (and meds for them too).
Bill, nothing will happen for you to ask, there was other meds my wife, brought back from the Philippines last time she visited. It is nothing to worry over.
She asked for something, that was out of stock, later that week one of her family friends who was a nurse showed up at the house with a few bottles for her.
And so far with my limited experience I have never encountered medicines that I thought was fake. but maybe I have been just lucky.
Hi Feyma,
I have noticed the same thing with my wife where she tends not to trust the generic brands. I think it has to do with the fact that there are a lot of fake medicines sold in the Philippines. I think sometimes generic thing are as good or even better than the name brand, but sometimes they are not.
Not completely on topic our oldest son got a canker sore in his mouth on a visit to the Philippines once that hurt so bad he refused to eat. We went to a pharmacy in Bohol and told them about the problem and the pharmacist sold us a medicine she said would fix the problem. I did not realize that the medicine was suppose to be prescribed by a doctor until I was back at Mama’s house. At first we were not going to give it to our son, but I read the side effects and decided the risk was not that bad and gave him the medicine. The stuff worked great! We brought the container back to the US and showed it to our son’s doctor here and she said the medicine would not work, but it did.
Hi Jay – We’ve been using the generics for a long time so I don’t tend to believed the gossip with some people around the medicine here. Luckily I didn’t know of anyone close to me that got fake meds from the pharmacy here. I hope not many people get too.
Hmmm… Interesting that your doctor said it won’t work but it did. I’m glad your son got better though. It’s not fun to travel with a sick child. We’ve been there done that.
Happy to see you here. Thank you for stopping by. Have a good one!
How about vitamins? And over the counter drugs?
I remember vitamins being sold there just like prescriptions over the counter like real drugs, at a large price.
I always include a lot of vitamins and over the counter drugs like Aspirin in our BB boxes.
Just because it is hard to get it in bulk there in the Philippines.
LOL told my wife that her grandmother needed to start offering it at her Store in the Provence at a slight profit, but she told me someone would put us in jail for dealing over the counter drugs.
Hi James – Yeah, you can easily buy vitamins with no prescriptions. So many over counter meds that you can purchase. One of them is a ibuprofen.
Some sari- sari store sells over the counter medicine too. A few days ago our helper bought med (pain med- muscle relaxer) from the nearest sari sari store from us.
Cheers!
My wife operates some wholesale/retail shops (like a mega-sari-sari) satas ng bukid. Smaller sari-sari buy from her now because it’s _there_ already with better prices than them treking *way* down into town to get it. We buy our pharma stock *retail* at Generic Pharmacy; we’re happy with the quality and price and so are her customers who save a lot of money and get what they need and keep coming back.
I recall that S&R has a hefty selection of huge bottles of vitamins and such, and comparatively dirt cheap.
Hi Feyma,
Would you clear something up for me please. Will I need to go to a generic drug store to get generic drugs or can a person just go to any drug store and ask for generic version of a named brand drug?
—Rich—
Hi Richard – You can also go to those popular pharmacy (sample- MERCURY DRUGSTORE) and ask for the generic meds from there. The price, it’s still cheaper to buy at the GENERIC PHARMACY.
Cheers!
You can get “generic” at any pharmacy – if they offer it – you need to ask, and a high-priced pharmacy will eat half an hour of your time for maybe not even double-priced generic meds. Note that there are many “generic” pharmacies – most of which have much higher prices than “the Generic Pharmacy”(TM), which is why the last few years I just go straight there. One time my wife sent her katulong to get some simple things, but they went to the wrong “generic”. I sent them back to return it and cross the street to the proper place. They returned with the correct meds and 60% cash back. Check, compare, try, and then you’ll know what I’ve learned.
Put it this way – you need something in the middle of the night? If you absolutely *can’t* wait until morning, you can go to Mercury or the botika on the corner and pay way too much. You can walk up the street and get the same at the 24/7 internal hospital pharmacy at half price (and pay by card!). You can wait until morning and take a local tricycle to Generic Pharmacy, pay cash, and save 75% average. Your choice.
Hope this helps.
what is the difference in price between generic / branded?
i know it depends on the medication but is it like 500 to 800?
I have had some medications where the branded medication was 90% higher than the generic.
A little while back, these are the price comparisons. They may have changed lately but let me
write them just the same for illustration purposes. Besides, I don’t think the changes have been significant.
BRANDED vs. GENERIC EQUIVALENTS:
Calcibloc (Anti-hypertension)-P17.00 vs. Nifedipine Tab, 10 mg.-P6.50
Zocor (for lowering cholesterol)-P48.00 vs. Simvastatin tab, 10 mg.-P9.70
Zyloprim (for gout/uric acid)-P8.00 vs. Allopurinol tab, 100 mg.-P1.80
Ponstan (fever and pain)-P29.00 vs, Mefenamic acid tab, 500 mg-P2.00
Solmux (for coughs) – P11.00 vs Carbocisteine cap., 500 mg-P2.70
Neozep (for colds)-P5.00 vs. PP+CPM+Para Tab Coldzep-P3.50
Medicol (arthritis/muscle pain)-P3.50 vs. Ibuprofen tab, 200 mg.-P1.30
Imodium (diarrhea)-P15.00 vs. Loperamide, 200 mg.-P1.40
Hope this helps.
Bang on. Thanks for providing some specific comparisons for people.
Heh, try this one, compare prices for birth-control pills or 3-month injections!
Same stuff. Hint, go for the injections, otherwise your wife will forget her pills for a couple of days and you’ll have baby #6 magmachdo mabilis.
Let me quote from my Sunstar newspaper article (it’s a bit old, so prices may have changed of late. But it’s being shown for illustration/comparison purposes):
“The two most popular branded medicines for headaches cost around P3 per tablet; the generic equivalent, Paracetamol, costs only P0.70. One popular branded tablet against cholesterol costs around P48 per tablet; the generic equivalent, Simvastatin, costs only P8.60.
“A popular branded anti-biotic costs P6.75 per tablet; the generic equivalent, Amoxicillin, costs only P2.70. A popular branded medicine against cough and colds costs P10.50 per tablet; the generic equivalent, Carbocisteine, is only P2.70.”
Here’s a relevant article published in Sunstar Davao newspaper: “Generics drugs: Are they really effective?” http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/tabije-generics-drugs-are-they-really-effective
Let me quote part of that article….. “My final advice: I have heard of believable stories about sub-standard generics medicines being produced by some unscrupulous laboratories. To avoid sub-standard medicines—branded or not—buy only from reputable pharmacies, especially the national chains which thoroughly inspect the drugs they buy. Some small hole-in-the-wall pharmacies, even sari-sari stores, sell at much lower prices but you are not sure of the integrity of their source of medicines. Don’t gamble your health for a few pesos of savings.”
(In the spirit of transparency, I’m hereby declaring that I’m the Franchisee of the TGP branches in Magallanes St., San Pedro St. & Calinan, all in Davao City).
Hello Ismael. We buy medicines from your branch every month.
That’s great to hear, Bob. Many thanks.
I hope our pharmacy staffs are doing a good job of attending to your needs (and all the other customers, of course).
Hi Ismael, my wife and my niece are the ones who would purchase at your store. We like buying from your place, but my wife said that your old staff is more friendly.
Thanks for the feedback Bob. Will pass this info to my wife–she
manages our stores.
Thank you Ismael. Is that the only branch that you own? I like the in-charge before. She’s more friendly. Let me know if you have other branch with in the city area. If the person we like was assigned there we will go there.
Thanks again!
Hi Ismail – Just curious, is Propecia (brand name, Finasteride) sold at your store there in Davao? If so, is it available over the counter, or by prescription only. How much does it sell for by the number of pills?
Hi John,
Finasteride is actually the generic name. We have available at 5 mg. at P21.50 each tab. It is OTC drug. Stay healthy…
Hi all,
I presently don’t take any prescription drugs, but wondered if over the counter items like aspirin or vitamins were selling at a cheaper price at the generic pharmacy too. Could someone tell me that?
Queenie
Hi Queenie… All meds, vitamins, etc. are cheaper at The Generics Pharmacy (TGP) compared to the other major drugstore chains. We don’t wish to compare prices with other small drug stores–they may have lower prices but we don’t know where they source their meds and the what’s the quality, or lack of it, of the meds produced by those anonymous sources.
Thanks for the info Ismael. I’ll have to check out the branches here in Cebu.
I had a bad experience with medication here the drugs I bought from generic pharmacy were fake ended up in hospital with bad lung infection from it.”
The packaging was similar to name brand but was fake
A lot of small pharmacies are selling the fakes watch out for what you buy
Article below states 105 of drugs here are fake
Fake Pharmaceutical DrugsThe Philippines | The Philippines
According to Philippine doctors and pharmaceutical experts, 10 percent of the drugs available in the Philippine Drug Market are believed and said to be counterfeit or fake.
Search domain thephilippines.phthephilippines.ph
Hello Feyma,
My ex-girlfriend is a Pharmacy owner in the Ilocos Sur Region so all of my med’s were free. But a lot of the Rural Health Unit Doctor’s would prescribe a certain brand of medication because of kickbacks from the Pharmaceutical Rep. And these certain Pharmaceutical Rep will deal with 1 Pharmacy owner for that certain medication to sell in the town. So most Filipino’s will believe their Doctor’s and go to the said Pharmacy to buy the marked up Medication to the delight of the Pharmacy owner and Doctor because of the kickbacks they’ll get from the Pharmaceutical Rep.
Majority of the counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs that are being sold are to the non-national drug store or pharmacies, especially in the provinces away from Manila. Now that I’m planning on relocating to Pasay from the Ilocos Sur Region, I’ll be shopping at the The Generics Pharmacy or other places too. Thanks for your time writing these great blogs and topics as well. Ingat din Feyma & Bob
I’m a nurse and I assure you that generic medicines are as good as branded ones. Doctors only prescribe the branded ones of their choice because the med prepresentative gives them rewards lang trips to other countries. Also branded are at higher price because of ads on tv and etc. As a nurse it is wise to ask for the generic name of the medicine and buy the medicine. Also nurses ar required to write the generic name with the brand of the doctor. So that means brands are just their because it gives the doctor benefits.
I usually buy at The Generics Pharmacy Magallanes or San Pedro branch since it’s near my location. Staff are well trained and accomodating! Buy their sandoz brand if you’re brand conscious. If you’re near Agdao there are two branches there: One at the back of the public market the other beside BDO bank. Avail of their free BP check-up. Their pharmacy assistants if not all are mostly nursing graduates. They are even licensed! Same as other The Generics Pharmacy branches I’ve been too – they provide excellent customer service.