PBBM witnesses signing of MOU to address pharmacist shortage

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a Regulatory Sandbox Pilot Program aimed at improving access to medicines.

The program is a collaboration between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the private sector to address the shortage of registered pharmacists in the country.

The Presidential Communications Office (PCO) stated that there is a shortage of about 27,500 registered pharmacists.

This initiative will allow licensed pharmacists to remotely supervise multiple community pharmacies through flexible mechanisms like telepharmacy and video supervision.

The pilot program is expected to help bridge the gap in pharmacist availability, particularly in underserved areas.