00:00For the expensive price, it seems that some people are compromising their health.
00:05If it's a medicine, the cheaper generic and herbal medicines are more effective.
00:10According to the Department of Health, Oscar Oida is right.
00:18On the day of his small business,
00:22Ms. Bebian is lucky if she can earn 500 pesos for the whole day of selling.
00:29She is willing to pay for her daily expenses.
00:33What she often compromises are her medical needs.
00:37You need to take care of yourself.
00:40You need to buy water, electricity, you need to buy food.
00:44You need to buy your medicine.
00:46It's a good thing that she has generic medicines for her maintenance.
00:51Generic helps a lot.
00:53With branded medicines, it's like x2.
00:56Ms. Estrella has been relying on herbal medicines for a long time,
01:00especially when her grandchildren are sick.
01:03They are more allergic to oregano than other medicines.
01:08According to the DOH, generic medicines can be used as traditional and herbal medicines.
01:16Now that Generic Awareness Month is held,
01:19the DOH and the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care
01:24initiated the Traditional Care and Generic Medicine Expo.
01:27We need to promote that these are as cost-effective and as quality as the branded ones.
01:35Our countrymen should not worry because this went through the regulatory processes.
01:43We've proven that these are, as I've said, they have the same quality as branded ones.
01:50We can see now that the current survey shows that 7 out of 10 Filipinos believe in generics,
01:59that they are cost-effective and affordable.
02:02Different herbal or natural medicines and traditional care are also being featured in this event.
02:08I just want to clarify that all herbal medicines, herbal products, especially pitak,
02:15are part of a comprehensive research.
02:21So we have partnered with distinct universities and other research facilities like UP, Ateneo,
02:29and this has passed.
02:31Just a reminder to the DOH, in the use of any product for health,
02:36it should always be safe and not fake.
02:40For GMA Integrated News, Oscar Oida for 24 Hours.
03:01For more information visit www.fema.gov
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