Insider Spotlight
Through a new Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program, the government and private sector are testing flexible pharmacy supervision models that could redefine how pharmacies operate nationwide.
Driving the News
At Malacañang Palace, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Private Sector Advisory Council–Health (PSAC-Health), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
The deal launches the Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program, designed to allow pharmacies to operate under telepharmacy and remote oversight mechanisms.
“By enabling pharmacies to operate with alternative supervision mechanisms, we can expand access to medicines, improve operational efficiency, and support the evolving role of pharmacy professionals in our healthcare ecosystem,” said Paolo Borromeo, Ayala Healthcare Holdings president & CEO and PSAC–Health Sector lead.
Why it matters
The country has around 64,000 licensed pharmacists—but only 30,000 active community practitioners, far short of the 57,500 needed. Current law requires a one-to-one pharmacist-to-pharmacy ratio, limiting expansion in rural and remote areas.
The sandbox could relax this bottleneck by enabling one pharmacist to oversee several outlets remotely while expanding the role of pharmacy assistants.
This is not just about regulatory tweaks—it’s about unlocking wider access to essential medicines, particularly for Filipinos in far-flung communities who often travel long distances just to get prescriptions filled.
What’s Next
The pilot will run from October 2025 to October 2027, with semi-annual reviews by the FDA, PRC, and PSAC-Health to assess safety, effectiveness, and scalability.
Results could shape amendments to the Pharmacy Law (RA 10918) and accelerate reforms under the Universal Health Care program.
If successful, the initiative could serve as a blueprint for balancing innovation with safety—making healthcare more accessible while strengthening professional standards in the process. – Princess Daisy C. Ominga |Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
