The Philippine government has launched a two-year pilot program that will allow licensed pharmacists to supervise multiple drugstores remotely, aiming to improve access to medicines in underserved areas. President Marcos witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Food and Drug Administration, the Professional Regulation Commission, and major pharmacy chains to begin the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program for Flexible Supervision of Pharmacies.
The initiative seeks to address the nationwide shortage of registered pharmacists, currently estimated at 27,500, by enabling technology-driven supervision through telepharmacy and video consultations while maintaining regulatory safeguards. The pilot will run from 2025 to 2027 and will be jointly managed by the FDA, the Professional Regulatory Board of Pharmacy, and the Private Sector Advisory Council–Health.
Participating chains include Mercury Drug, Watsons, Southstar Drug, Rose Pharmacy, Generika, MedExpress, and several regional pharmacies. Pilot sites span Metro Manila and key provinces such as Abra, La Union, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros, and Misamis.
Under the program, one pharmacist may oversee several pharmacies via FDA-approved digital platforms, while trained pharmacy assistants will handle on-site services under remote supervision. Government and private sector leaders said the evidence-based pilot aims to expand medicine access, enhance operational efficiency, and inform possible amendments to the Philippine Pharmacy Act to support broader telepharmacy adoption.
(Source: Manila Bulletin)
