More than five years since the Cheaper Medicines Act (CMA) was passed into law, its awareness, especially among the poor, remains low. Private practitioners also do not consistently support the law and have doubts on the effectiveness of generic drugs. Meanwhile, government physicians generally prescribe generics, and direct patients to generic pharmacies. This Policy Note recommends strategies on how to increase awareness and acceptance of the CMA. One of these is gathering information on what private physicians know and believe about the CMA. The information can be used in developing an advocacy campaign to encourage the support of the private medical community. Developing an integrated communication campaign on the CMA is also important. The expansion of the generic drugs price list to include medicines for common ailments, vitamins especially for children, expensive antibiotics, and other maintenance medicines is also strongly recommended.
