DOH suspends fee hikes for health products

The Department of Health (DOH) has suspended the increase in fees for facility registration and certificate of product registration for health products, effective immediately.

FDA Director General Paolo Teston had requested this suspension to assess certain provisions of Administrative Order No. 2024-0016, which adjusts existing fees and imposes new charges.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa announced a 60-day suspension of the order in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s directive to ease business burdens and improve access to medicine.

Teston emphasized that any fee increase must be justified by visible improvements in service delivery and operational efficiency, aligning with his commitment to modernize regulatory services under the FDA's reform priorities.

The DOH assured the public it is working closely with the FDA and concerned parties to ensure revised or new fees are necessary for cost recovery.