Celebrating 29 years in reinforcing the country's health, affordably and morally

CEBU, Philippines - The pharmaceutical industry may be dominated by multinational companies and big names, but there are also local brands that are making it big through perseverance and hard honest work.

In order for a company to survive they have to compete, not just in terms of price, since doctors love to prescribe pricey medicines anyway, but also in terms of creativity when it comes to marketing and building good relationships. For a company who shunned "industry accepted" morally questionable practices as a way of loosening the doctor's pen to favor their drugs, we could only imagine the challenge.

Prosel Pharmaceutical, Inc., a Cebu-grown company, has gone through the lows when they decided to do away with the giving out of favors and perks for their client's personal gain, but after 29 years they are making their mark in the local drug industry with locally-made affordable innovative products that includes antibiotics, vitamins and mineral supplements, and the Pred line.

Last June 29, they celebrated the company's anniversary, honoring their innovative sales force and support groups, who collectively made the company a success.

I was honored to have been invited to the occasion. Currently, I am helping them design their 2013 calendar, which, by the way starts September 2012. The project's on its final stages, ready for printing, and features works of The FREEMAN artist Dudley Calunsod.

Ellen Luna of Prosel took the inspiration of the calendar from Dadi Janki's book, Feeling Great, which reflects on one of the philosophies that guide Prosel in its daily dealings with their client, which is for its people to always feel great with what they do.

As much as we rarely see local drug companies making it big in an industry of big names, so much more one who does not conform to "industry accepted" practices, to know one only brings inspiration. Being different can only be good, especially when it means doing the right thing.

Congratulations to Prosel. (FREEMAN)