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Questions: 

1. Differentiate OTC drugs, ethical, and proprietary drugs. Provide 5 examples for
each available in Philippine market.
The drug classification system, as prescription or non-prescription drug category,
has been utilized as a regulatory strategy to ensure patient safety. Over-the-counter
medicine is also known as OTC or nonprescription medicine. All these terms refer to
medicine can be sold directly to the general public without a prescription. Most of them
are for self-limiting and easily self-diagnosed conditions and appropriate labels for use
are usually provided to enable patient self-selection of an appropriate drug and enhance
the safe and effective use of the drug by consumers. OTC drugs enable people to
relieve many annoying symptoms and to cure some minor diseases simply and without
the cost of seeing a doctor. These drugs are usually located on shelves in pharmacies,
grocery stores, convenience stores and even in gas stations. They are regulated by the
FDA through OTC Drug monographs. These drugs are not as potent as Rx drugs, and it
is less likely that they can be misused or abused – but it can happen. They are safe and
effective when you follow the directions on the label and as directed by your health care
professional. Examples of OTC drugs include antihistamines, laxatives, decongestants,
cough suppressants, vitamins and pain relievers specifically: Paracetamol (Biogesic),
Sodium Ascorbate (Fern-C), Loratadine (Claritin), Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and Sodium
Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon).

Prescription or Ethical drugs means any pharmaceutical products or drug

preparations that are dispensed only upon written order of a duly-licensed physician,
dentist or veterinarian for the treatment of a condition or a diagnosed disease of man or
animals. They are safe and effective when used under a doctor's care. Unlike OTC
drugs, these medications are typically stronger than OTC drugs, and can only be used
by the intended person to treat a specific medical diagnosis. Prescription drugs are only
distributed at licensed pharmacies and hospitals. Excluding the US and Canada, they
cannot be directly advertised to consumers. In the Philippines, they are permitted to be
sold through online pharmacies. Examples of drugs that fall under this classification are
narcotics, habit-forming drugs, hypnotic drugs, antibiotics, injectables and etc. They are
also regulated by FDA through the New Drug Application (NDA) process.

According to another source, Ethical: a drug that, in accordance with Federal

Legislation, does not require a prescription, but that is generally prescribed by a medical
practitioner and is only available legally with said practitioner’s consent. Ethical products
are unscheduled non-prescription professional use products (e.g. MRI contrast agents,
hemodialysis solutions) and a few emergency use products (e.g. nitroglycerine).
Examples of ethical drugs include Alprazolam (Xanor), Atorvastatin Calcium (Lipitor),
Amlodipine (Norvasc), Metformin (Formet 500) and Simvastatin (Zimvast).

A proprietary medicine is a preparation that is owned or controlled by an individual or

individuals. This control is held and protected either by a copyright or trade name, or by
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a patent. Proprietary preparations controlled by copyright or trade names are generally

mixtures, and are often secret or semi-secret in character. It is sold, offered, promoted
or advertised directly to the general public by or under the authority of the manufacturer
or primary distributor, under a trademark, trade name or other trade symbol privately
owned, and the labeling of which conforms to the requirements of the applicable law.
The ingredients, however, may be components of generic drugs that have the same or
similar effects. Generic drugs and proprietary drugs do not differ in active ingredients.
Cost of generic drugs is lower than that of proprietary drugs. Examples of these drugs
include Guaifenesin (Robitussin) from Pfizer, Mefenamic Acid (Dolfenal) and
Carbocisteine (Solmux) from Unilab, Bisacodyl (Dulcolax) from Boehringer Ingelheim
Pharmaceuticals Inc., and Paracetamol (Calpol) from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
In sum, industry terminology categorizes drugs as ethical drugs, which are available
only on prescription and is not widely advertised due to potential adverse reactions, and
over-the-counter or proprietary drugs, which are advertised to the consumer and sold
without a prescription.

2. Discuss the changing and expanding role of pharmacists with respect to full
implementation of the Generics law (RA 6675).
Currently, pharmacists play a broader, integral part in the Philippine healthcare
system. Their usual duty of dispensing medications and prescription drugs has
expanded to other clinical services like health consultation, drug and medication
information, health promotion, and adult immunization, among others. The “newly”
expanded role of the pharmacist puts communication and patient satisfaction at the
forefront of the industry. This is key to helping to reduce medication discrepancies and
patient problems.
The Philippine government passed the Generics Act of 1988 to ensure that
inexpensive and effective drugs are made available to all Filipinos. The law aims to
supply and promote low-priced quality medicines as alternatives to the widely
consumed but more expensive originator brands by requiring physicians to include in
their prescriptions both the generic and brand names of the medicines. With this in
mind, it is an acknowledged fact that pharmaceuticals are expensive in the Philippines
and being a third world country, the Filipinos can barely afford their cost even with help
from the government or through a subsidy.
With respect to the full implementation of the Generics Law (Ra 6675), a
pharmacist, now, is tasked with the role of improving the poor public perception of
generic drugs because of the aggressive promotion of branded products in the industry.
Pharmacists are unique educators and they have the responsibility of increasing
awareness of the issues on drug prices and encouraging advocacy of generic
substitution. This law requires pharmacists to use the generic as a default. Regardless
of patient preferences, initiating a conversation with both patient and prescriber about
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the benefits of a therapeutic interchange is possible, especially in the inpatient setting. It

is the right of the patient to be informed that taking branded drugs are not required since
there are cost-saving generic bioequivalent alternatives in the market. If the patient says
they are too costly, the pharmacist can suggest more tangible options with similar levels
of clinical effectiveness. This is also an opportunity to explain that generic drugs also
underwent quality manufacturing processes and assurance practices and they’re
standards can be comparable to branded ones even though they do not look the same
or manufactured from the same company.
Indeed, this may be an important component of improving transitions of care
moving forward. By helping patients “afford” the medicines needed for their treatment,
they can consequently inspire them to adhere to strict routines, tracking mediation
processes, eliminating and monitoring error. This is directly in line with the objectives of
RA 6675 to provide access to affordable and essential medicines in low and middle-
income families and extend medical coverage. Aside from lowering the healthcare
systems cost, they ultimately increase patient adherence and therefore, achieve more
optimal outcomes, avoiding complications and hospitalizations. More than that, by
promoting, distributing, marketing and advertising generic terminology, both patients
and pharmacists can minimize duplication in medications and/or use of drugs with
potentially adverse drug interactions because they know that they are in the same drug
class, therefore they render the same function. This crucial shift in the role of the
pharmacist, from bystander to active healthcare provider, is already helping reduce
public health barriers. People now considering the pharmacy a point of care, a place
where they can receive advice and often mild treatment.

3. What is Pharmaceutical Marketing?

As the last element of an information continuum, where research concepts are
transformed into practical therapeutic tools and where information is progressively
layered and made more useful to the health care system, Pharmaceutical marketing
refers to the offline and digital strategies used to attract new patients and raise
awareness around a certain drug or treatment plan of the different brands in this sector,
with respect to the guidelines of national and international regulatory frameworks.
Basically, it publicizes the benefits of a product to a specific audience in the healthcare
ecosystem. Pharmaceutical marketing can either be geared towards physicians or
towards selling directly to consumers. It is presently the most organized and
comprehensive information system for updating physicians about the availability, safety,
efficacy, hazards, and techniques of using medicines.
Broadly speaking, pharmaceutical marketing involves all of the promotional activities
carried out by an organization to make pharmaceutical products and care a reality, and
available to customers (patients and other decision makers) from the manufacturer.
Ultimately, it centers around supporting patients throughout product launch timelines.
When applied correctly, will guarantee a highly positive impact on all the audiences it
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contemplates, and who are becoming more demanding every day when it comes to
establishing a connection with a brand.
Pharmaceutical marketing process includes identifying public needs and creating
products or services to meet this demand; developing better products and services in
the market; communicating information, determining product value and target market;
exchanging and transacting the product for a value with public satisfaction.
Pharmaceutical marketing includes all informational and persuasive activities that
serves and meets the identified needs of patients in a profitable way.
Pharmaceutical marketing includes disease management programs, sample
distribution, availability of detailed product literature and support material to patients,
and organising events or meetings with physicians. 
Pharmaceutical marketing involves the actions to create a demand for goods and
sales promotion through the Marcom (marketing communication) plan. And
pharmaceutical marketers use the elements of marketing mix which are 7Ps (Product,
Place, Price, Promotion, Physical, People and Process) to meet and exceed the
expectations of customers. They consolidate to form the components of a marketing
division that need to audit to promote the company effectively.

4. Discuss the concept of needs and wants. Provide examples

Needs and wants are an important part of an economy. By the term needs, we
mean those requirements which are extremely necessary for a human being to live a
healthy life. They are personal, psychological, cultural, social, etc that are important for
an organism to survive.

In ancient times the three basic needs of the man are food, clothing and shelter but
with the passage of time, education and healthcare also became integral, as they
improve the quality of life. They are a person’s first priority as they are the things that
they keep us healthy and safe. Therefore, if needs are not satisfied in time, it may result
in illness, inability in functioning properly or even death. Needs are usually your basic
living expenses, things necessary for your health, or expenses that are required for you
to do your job. These could be: rent or mortgage, utility bills, health care and therapy,
medication, food, work uniform, commuting etc.

In economics, wants are defined as something that a person would like to possess,
either immediately or at a later time. Simply put, wants are the desires that cause
business activities to produce such products and services that are demanded by the
economy. A want may include entertainment, dining out, home purchases such as
decorative figurines, travel, top of the line electronics, monthly subscriptions or
memberships like Netflix, TV or music streaming accounts like Spotify, new clothing and
etc. They are optional, i.e. an individual is going to survive, even if not satisfied. Further,
wants may vary from person to person and time to time.
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We all know that human wants are unlimited while the means to satisfy those wants
are limited. Hence, all the wants of an individual cannot be met and they must seek for
alternatives. Failure to fulfill wants doesn’t cause any physical side effects, but it can
disturb the person mentally.

The aforementioned information concluded that needs and wants are separate
forces that compels actions for satisfaction. Needs can be distinguished from wants on
the basis of their level of importance. Whether an expense is a need or a want often
depends on how and why you use it. Hence, the distinction is between what is required
and what is desired. However, the line between wants and needs is sometimes blurry,
and it can be hard to separate out which expenses belong in which category. 

It is easy to miscategorize wants as needs if one is accustomed to them that he/she

has trouble imagining living without them. Some things you buy might seem like needs
but are really wants because you're choosing a version that's more than you actually
need. So, you spend too much of your money on things you want. Then you do not
have enough money for your needs. For example, a grocery bill is a need because you
need to eat. But if, along with your produce, protein, and whole grains, you also buy
chips and soda, then some of those things are wants rather than needs. Wants are not
inherently bad. They are pleasant and often can help you accomplish important goals
like keeping in touch with loved ones, having fun, or staying healthy but both needs and
wants must be purchased with money. A budget can help people figure out what they
can afford. In the end, needs and wants are similar because both are important for
improving the quality of life and providing mental peace.

5. Enumerate and describe the different types of pharmaceutical market.

The pharmaceutical industry is made up of several markets and these markets are
categorized in many different ways.
A. Traditional Markets
1. Community Pharmacy – carries health foods, fluids, and grocery items –
particularly those that operate a large chain store operation. They are strategically
located inside commercial malls, groceries and supermarkets, others inside wet and
dry market, and even in remote barrios.
Many drugstore owners are themselves the pharmacists, and their children
oftentimes follow their footsteps either as pharmacists or in actually managing the
business. A number of drugstores are presently manned by the second generation
(sons, daughters, in-laws).
2. Hospitals – the formulary serves as the basis for purchase orders and reorders.
The prescriptions generated from the hospital in-patient department are being
served by the hospital’s pharmacy department. The prescriptions generated from the
out-patient department are being served by drugstores fronting or adjacent to the
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hospital, or nearby drugstores. The prescriptions generated from the emergency

room are being served by the hospital pharmacy and nearby drugstores. Therefore,
the availability of products in the hospital pharmacy is based on the prescriptions
served.
3. Industrial Clinics – some companies (PLDT, San Miguel Corporation, Meralco,
Del Monte Phil. Packing Corp, Dole Philippines, Philex Mining Corp) maintain
medical and dental services, purchase medicines and supplies for employees’ use
for free or discounted rates.
4. Medical Clinics / Dispensing Physicians – are composed of physicians
maintaining generic or branded drug products in commercial supply in their private
clinics that purchased either directly from medical representatives of drug companies
or from large wholesalers. The drug products are directly dispensed to incoming
patients and charges are included in consultation fees.

B. Non-Traditional Markets
1. Groceries and Supermarkets – These outlets install a full-blown pharmacy inside
the mall premises attended to by a licensed pharmacist. What differentiate them from
other drugstores are their strategic locations inside the supermarket. These outlets
capitalize on the total shop-mi or one-stop-shop concept. Customer traffic is heavy in
supermarkets and these drug outlets enjoy hefty sales and profits.
Majority of grocery and supermarkets are only allowed to carry OTC drugs at the
selling areas, or check-in counters, or both, because they are only bought by
shoppers who may have heard, seen, or read these products on radio, TV, or print;
are prescribed by physicians and dentists, or are endorsed by friends, relatives and
associates.
1. Trading and Sari-sari Stores – OTC drug products are made available for the
people through home remedy stores, “Botica sa Barrio,” or cooperative drugstores.
Home remedy drug products for common ailments are part of the total store mix of
product lines, expanding self-care and self-diagnosing practice. These markets so not
have licensed pharmacist.
2. NGO and Charity Organizations – These entities buy medicines from drug
companies for charitable purposes. They employ the voluntary services of medical
teams and allied professionals in conducting “medical missions” or “free clinics.”
Purchases include analgesic antipyretics, cough and colds, antibiotics, antidiarrheals,
antispasmodics etc.
The retainer-physician or social worker acts as the terminal purchase decision-
makers. These entities do not normally employ the services of pharmacists to
dispense drug products.
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References:
 https://www.fda.gov/drugs/buying-using-medicine-safely/understanding-over-counter-
medicines
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/non-prescription-drug
 https://www.drugs.com/otc/
 https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/drugs/over-the-counter-drugs/overview-of-over-
the-counter-drugs
 https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/over-counter-medicines#:~:text=Over%2Dthe
%2Dcounter%20(OTC)%20medicines%20are%20those%20that,constipation%2C
%20acne%2C%20and%20others
 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/457837#:~:text=A%20proprietary
%20medicine%20is%20a,or%20semi%2Dsecret%20in%20character.
 https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/drug-
products/drug-product-database/terminology.html
 https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/ethical-drug
 https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/prescription-or-ethical-drugs
 https://www.fda.gov/drugs/frequently-asked-questions-popular-topics/prescription-drugs-
and-over-counter-otc-drugs-questions-and-answers
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7705273/
 https://www.pharmapproach.com/prescription-drugs-and-over-the-counter-drugs/
 https://www.baptist-health.com/blog/prescription-vs-over-the-counter-medication/
 https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/proprietary-medicine
 https://dictionary.apa.org/proprietary-drug
 https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h5507/rr
 https://www.pharmaceutical-tech.com/categories/pharmaceutical-sales-and-marketing
 https://www.orientation.agency/insights/pharmaceutical-marketing-management
 https://pharmastate.academy/pharmaceutical-marketing/
 https://www.jli.edu.in/blog/pharmaceutical-marketing/
 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8012620/
 https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/needs-and-wants/630969
 https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-separate-wants-and-needs-453592
 https://www.difference101.com/needs-vs-wants/
 https://www.abileneteachersfcu.org/blog/needs-vs-wants-how-to-tell-the-difference/
#:~:text=A%20need%20is%20something%20necessary,while%20wants%20include
%20everything%20else.
 https://think-asia.org/handle/11540/6426
 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3758081/
 https://bhmpc.com/2015/03/5-ways-the-expanding-role-of-the-pharmacist-is-changing-
healthcare/
 https://www.drugtopics.com/view/the-pharmacist-s-role-in-generic-substitution