PHAP takes part in COVID-19 response
PHAP donation benefits 1.5 million families, 155 health facilities
MANILA – The members of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) extended Persona Protective Equipment (PPEs) consisting of coveralls, N91 masks, surgical masks, surgical gloves, face shields, googles, shoe covers among others, test kits, ventilators, medicines, vitamins, vaccines, personal hygiene items, disinfectants, food packs for front line health workers and transportation assistance for patients.
The beneficiaries include government and private hospitals, charitable institutions, government agencies and non-government organizations.
PHAP members gathered some P120 million in monetary and in-kind donations to boost the country’s COVID-19 response. Some 1.5 million families and 155 hospitals will benefit from the donation.
Employees of PHAP-member companies volunteered in community efforts to support frontline health workers and patients.
“Even as the global biopharmaceutical industry is leading the way in developing COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and diagnostics, we are taking concrete actions to support the Philippine government’s COVID-19 response. We are working round-the-clock to ensure an uninterrupted supply of life-saving medicines despite global lockdowns. Also a key component of these actions is our corporate social responsibility initiatives aimed at protecting frontline health workers and patients,” said PHAP Executive Director Teodoro B. Padilla.
Aside from the member companies’ COVID-19 response initiatives, PHAP members also contributed a total of P8.5 million financial and in-kind donations to the PHAPCares Foundation, the social responsibility arm of PHAP mandated to help improve the health and lives of disadvantaged Filipinos afflicted by sickness, poverty and disasters.
Meanwhile, PHAPCares Foundation executive director Dr. Rosarita Qiojano Siasoco said PHAP and its member companies are committed to support the country’s health care system capacity and protect health-care workers and patients.
The PHAPCares Foundation turned over PPEs and in-kind donations to the San Lazaro Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine General Hospital, Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital and East Avenue Medical Center, San Lorenzo Ruiz Women’s Hospital, Rizal Medical Center, Perpetual Help Medical Center – Binan and World Citi Medical Center. Other beneficiaries were the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Ospital ng Muntinlupa, La Union Medical Center, La Union Provincial Health Office and Bataan General Hospital and Medical Center.
Also a recipient of in-kind donations was the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Sta. Ana Hospital, Binan City Main Health Center and Our Lady of Peace Hospital Foundation whose members also served as frontliners during the Enhanced Community Quarantine and the General Community Quarantine in Metro Manila starting March 15. During the quarantine period, the PHAPCares Foundation also provided in-kind donations to members of the police and several barangays manning the checkpoints.
Among the PHAP members who participated in the campaign for COVID-19 response were Abbott Laboratories Philippines; Astellas; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals (Phil.) Inc.; Bayer Philippines, Inc.; Boehringer Ingelheim (Philippines), Inc.; GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Philippines Inc.; Hi-Eisai Pharmaceutical, Inc. (Philippines); Johnson & Johnson; Merck Group, Inc.; MSD Philippines; Mercury Drug Corporation; Metro Drug Inc.; Mundipharma Distribution GmbH (Philippine Branch); Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Inc.; Novo Nordisk; Otsuka (Philippines) Pharmaceutical, Inc.; Pfizer Philippines, Inc.; PHILUSA Corporation; Qualimed Pharma Inc.; Roche Philippines, Inc.; Sanofi; Taisho; Takeda; The Generic Pharmacy (TGP) Pharma Inc.; and Zuellig Pharma Corporation.
PHAP and its affiliates will also be initiating future pandemic-related partnerships in support of the nation’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, and establish pharmaceutical security resilience in preparation for pandemics. (Melo M. Acuña)
