CFPs: National Action Plan Against Substandard and Falsified Pharmaceutical Products (Philippines)

The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines is inviting proposals from qualified institutions to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) to combat substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products in the Philippines. The selected institution will conduct a national situational analysis, facilitate stakeholder consultations, and prepare a strategic action plan aligned with ASEAN and national health policies.

About the WHO Philippines Call for Proposals

The World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines is seeking an experienced institution to support the development of a comprehensive National Action Plan aimed at preventing and combating substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products.

The consultancy will strengthen the Philippines’ pharmaceutical regulatory system by assessing the current situation, identifying regulatory and public health gaps, and developing a coordinated national strategy that aligns with regional and international best practices.

Programme Objectives

The consultancy aims to:

• Develop a comprehensive National Action Plan against substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products.
• Strengthen pharmaceutical regulation and public health systems.
• Improve regulatory coordination and enforcement.
• Enhance medicine quality assurance and patient safety.
• Align national strategies with regional and international frameworks.
• Support evidence-based policy development.
• Strengthen collaboration among health sector stakeholders.

Focus Areas

The initiative focuses on:

• Pharmaceutical quality assurance.
• Substandard pharmaceutical products.
• Falsified medicines.
• Health systems strengthening.
• Pharmaceutical regulation.
• Regulatory science.
• Public health policy.
• Medicine safety.
• Drug regulatory enforcement.
• National pharmaceutical governance.
• Health policy development.
• ASEAN pharmaceutical cooperation.

Scope of Work

The selected institution will be responsible for:

• Conducting a comprehensive situational analysis of substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products in the Philippines.
• Assessing the scale and nature of the problem.
• Reviewing existing regulatory, legal, enforcement, and public health systems.
• Identifying policy and implementation gaps.
• Facilitating technical consultations with relevant stakeholders.
• Supporting discussions among government agencies and technical experts.
• Developing a draft National Action Plan.
• Defining strategic priorities and implementation approaches.
• Recommending monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

Expected Deliverables

The consultancy is expected to produce:

• A national situational assessment.
• Analysis of existing regulatory and enforcement systems.
• Identification of policy and implementation gaps.
• Documentation of stakeholder consultations.
• A comprehensive draft National Action Plan.
• Strategic objectives and priority interventions.
• Recommendations for implementation and coordination.

Alignment with Regional Frameworks

The National Action Plan should align with:

• ASEAN Action Plan for Combating Substandard and Falsified Medical Products.
• Relevant national pharmaceutical policies.
• Philippine public health priorities.
• International best practices in pharmaceutical regulation.

Who is Eligible?

The opportunity is open to institutions capable of assigning qualified experts to undertake the consultancy.

Eligible institutions should have expertise in:

• Public health.
• Pharmaceutical policy.
• Health systems strengthening.
• Regulatory science.
• Medicine regulation.
• Health policy development.
• Pharmaceutical governance.

Project Manager Qualifications

The designated Project Manager must have:

• An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or higher) in:
  • Public Health.
  • Pharmacy.
  • Medicine.
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  • Health Policy.
  • Regulatory Science.
  • Health Systems Development.
  • Or a closely related discipline.
• At least seven years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience in:
  • Health systems strengthening.
  • Pharmaceutical policy.
  • Regulatory systems.
• Proven experience working with:
  • National governments.
  • Regulatory authorities.
• Strong knowledge of:
  • Philippine health systems.
  • Philippine FDA regulatory environment.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Substandard and falsified medicines pose serious risks to patient safety, public health, and healthcare systems.

A comprehensive National Action Plan will help:

• Improve medicine quality.
• Protect patients from unsafe pharmaceutical products.
• Strengthen regulatory oversight.
• Improve coordination among government agencies.
• Enhance pharmaceutical supply chain integrity.
• Increase public confidence in medicines.
• Support universal health coverage and better health outcomes.

How to Apply

Interested institutions should:

1. Carefully review the Call for Proposal document.
2. Confirm institutional eligibility and technical capacity.
3. Assemble a qualified project team.
4. Prepare a technical proposal addressing the required scope of work.
5. Demonstrate experience in pharmaceutical regulation and health systems.
6. Submit all required documentation according to the proposal guidelines.

Tips for a Strong Proposal

Applicants should:

• Demonstrate extensive experience in pharmaceutical regulation.
• Highlight previous work with governments or regulatory authorities.
• Present a clear methodology for conducting the situational analysis.
• Explain stakeholder engagement and consultation approaches.
• Show familiarity with Philippine regulatory systems.
• Include a realistic implementation timeline.
• Demonstrate expertise in developing national health policies.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

• Assigning personnel without the required qualifications.
• Demonstrating limited experience in pharmaceutical regulation.
• Failing to address ASEAN policy alignment.
• Providing vague implementation methodologies.
• Omitting stakeholder consultation plans.
• Ignoring Philippine regulatory context.
• Submitting incomplete proposal documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants are institutions capable of providing qualified personnel with expertise in pharmaceutical regulation, public health, health systems, and policy development.

What is the main objective of the consultancy?

The consultancy aims to develop a comprehensive National Action Plan to combat substandard and falsified pharmaceutical products in the Philippines.

What qualifications are required for the Project Manager?

The Project Manager must hold a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field and have at least seven years of professional experience in pharmaceutical policy, health systems, or regulatory science.

What activities will the selected institution undertake?

The institution will conduct a situational analysis, assess regulatory gaps, facilitate technical consultations, and prepare a draft National Action Plan.

Which frameworks should the National Action Plan align with?

The plan should align with the ASEAN Action Plan for Combating Substandard and Falsified Medical Products and relevant Philippine national policies.

Why is this initiative important?

The initiative strengthens medicine regulation, improves patient safety, enhances public health systems, and helps prevent the circulation of unsafe pharmaceutical products.

Where can applicants find complete submission requirements?

Interested institutions should consult the official Call for Proposal document for detailed eligibility criteria, scope of work, submission instructions, and proposal requirements.

Conclusion

The WHO Philippines Call for Proposals presents an important opportunity for qualified institutions to contribute to national pharmaceutical safety by developing a comprehensive National Action Plan against substandard and falsified medicines. Through evidence-based analysis, stakeholder collaboration, and strategic policy development, the initiative will strengthen regulatory systems, improve medicine quality, protect public health, and align the Philippines with regional and international standards for combating falsified pharmaceutical products.