DOH pushes for three-pronged legislative agenda against high cost of medicines
Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay (1st District, Zambales) has proposed that the 21 measures providing greater access to affordable medicines be immediately scheduled for deliberation at the mother committee level instead of undergoing scrutiny at the sub-committee level
The Department of Health (DOH)on Wednesday pushed for a three-pronged legislative agenda to bring down the cost of medicines in the country.
DOH Undersecretary Alex Padilla, during the hearing on cheaper medicines before the House Committee on Appropriations, has called for the amendments of Intellectual Property Code as well as flexibilities on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in order that patent on essential drugs be lifted.
Padilla also recommended that the powers of the Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) be strengthened.
He also asked the Lower House for the amendments of Republic Act 6675, also known as the Generics Act of 1988.
Rep. Antonio Alvarez, chair of the House committee on trade and industry, said the Generics Act amendment is also crucial as branded drugs lord over unbranded ones.
Data showed the branded drugs has a combined sales of Php63.2 billion in 2002 as against unbranded drugs with Php2.4 billion only during the same period.
"But this is not to say that Filipinos do not want generic drugs because a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey has shown that six out of 10 Filipinos say they are buying generic drugs. The issue is access," Alvarez said.
The DOH also highlighted the disparity in drugs prices being sold in the Philippines, India and Pakistan.
Padilla cited the anti-asthma drug Ventolin, which retails for Php315 per canister in the country, is five times cheaper in Pakistan where it sells for only Php62.10.
He also said that popular pain killer Ponstan is being sold here for Php21.82 per 500 milligram (mg) tablet while in India it can be bought for only Php2.61.
"While it is not listed as such the fact is that the high price of medicine can be considered a leading cause of death in the country," Alvarez said.
He said that with high cost of medicines in the country, it becomes the moral duty of the government to carry out parallel importation.
However, he said, the durable solution is the creation of legal and economic infrastructure that would lead to the production of cheaper quality medicines in the country.
The Committee on Trade and Industry has identified the Cheaper Medicines bill as its foremost priority alongside the other measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) in the areas of economic progress and social equity.
Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay (1st District, Zambales) has proposed that the 21 measures providing greater access to affordable medicines be immediately scheduled for deliberation at the mother committee level instead of undergoing scrutiny at the sub-committee level. (PNA)
The Department of Health (DOH)on Wednesday pushed for a three-pronged legislative agenda to bring down the cost of medicines in the country.
DOH Undersecretary Alex Padilla, during the hearing on cheaper medicines before the House Committee on Appropriations, has called for the amendments of Intellectual Property Code as well as flexibilities on Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in order that patent on essential drugs be lifted.
Padilla also recommended that the powers of the Bureau of Foods and Drugs (BFAD) be strengthened.
He also asked the Lower House for the amendments of Republic Act 6675, also known as the Generics Act of 1988.
Rep. Antonio Alvarez, chair of the House committee on trade and industry, said the Generics Act amendment is also crucial as branded drugs lord over unbranded ones.
Data showed the branded drugs has a combined sales of Php63.2 billion in 2002 as against unbranded drugs with Php2.4 billion only during the same period.
"But this is not to say that Filipinos do not want generic drugs because a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey has shown that six out of 10 Filipinos say they are buying generic drugs. The issue is access," Alvarez said.
The DOH also highlighted the disparity in drugs prices being sold in the Philippines, India and Pakistan.
Padilla cited the anti-asthma drug Ventolin, which retails for Php315 per canister in the country, is five times cheaper in Pakistan where it sells for only Php62.10.
He also said that popular pain killer Ponstan is being sold here for Php21.82 per 500 milligram (mg) tablet while in India it can be bought for only Php2.61.
"While it is not listed as such the fact is that the high price of medicine can be considered a leading cause of death in the country," Alvarez said.
He said that with high cost of medicines in the country, it becomes the moral duty of the government to carry out parallel importation.
However, he said, the durable solution is the creation of legal and economic infrastructure that would lead to the production of cheaper quality medicines in the country.
The Committee on Trade and Industry has identified the Cheaper Medicines bill as its foremost priority alongside the other measures identified by the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) in the areas of economic progress and social equity.
Rep. Ma. Milagros Magsaysay (1st District, Zambales) has proposed that the 21 measures providing greater access to affordable medicines be immediately scheduled for deliberation at the mother committee level instead of undergoing scrutiny at the sub-committee level. (PNA)
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
4:53 PM
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