DOH hints at more delays before medicine prices are halved

MANILA, Philippines - Consumers may still need to wait some more before prices of 21 essential medicines are cut in half, the Department of Health (DOH) hinted Wednesday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that even if drug firms would submit on Saturday a letter of undertaking (LOU) to comply with the Cheaper Medicines Act, the health department would still review the letter thoroughly. Duque, however, did not indicate how much time the DOH needs to review the LOU. "Ibibigay nila sa Sabado ang kanilang letter of undertaking kung saan nakalista ang mga gamot na babawasan nila ng kalahati ang presyo. Susuriin naman nang maigi ng DOH ang letter na yan. Ayoko munang magsalita nang patapos tungkol dito," he said in an interview on dzXL radio. [On Saturday, multinational drug firms will submit a letter of undertaking to voluntarily comply with the Cheaper Medicines Act to halve prices of 21 essential medicines. The DOH will review the letter thoroughly. I don’t want to give further comments on that yet.] On the other hand, Duque hinted that senior citizens may get a "bonus" once drug firms comply with the Cheaper Medicines Act because the 20-percent discount they are enjoying might be retained even if prices of essential medicines will be cut by half. He said the DOH’s lawyers are studying whether the Cheaper Medicines Act will have any "conflict" with the Expanded Senior Citizens Act that offers 20 percent discount for medicines. "Sa tingin ko, may ibang batas na lumikha nitong senior citizens discount. Kaya maaaring hindi automatic na komo bumaba ang presyo ng gamot, ipapasok na dun ang senior citizens’ discount [I think, the senior citizens’ discount is covered by a separate law, meaning that the Cheaper Medicines Act might not automatically invalidate the senior citizens’ discount]," Duque said. While waiting for the implementation of the price cap for some essential medicines, Duque said that consumers could make do with generic medicines that are much cheaper compared to their branded alternatives. "Marami na ring multinational companies na naglalabas ng generic versions ng branded products nila. Pati na rin ang local pharmaceutical firms gumagaya na rin [There are many multinational companies coming up with generic versions of their branded products, even local companies are doing the same thing]," he said. Duque also frowned on suggestions for the establishment of a drug price regulatory board, saying the DOH favors competition among players in the market. Last Tuesday, Sen. Manuel Roxas II said President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo needed only to sign a document to halve the prices of 21 essential drugs, but she has not done so. Roxas said a draft executive order prepared by the DOH to cut the cost of 21 essential drugs has been awaiting Mrs. Arroyo’s signature since June 10. The unsigned document contains a list of essential drugs and their compulsory maximum retail prices (MRP) – limits set by Republic Act 9502 (the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act), which the President signed into law on June 6 last year. Her failure to act on the DOH recommendation has led to charges that the government is being pressured by powerful lobbyists for the multinational-dominated pharmaceutical industry. Roxas claimed that Roberto Romulo, executive director of President Arroyo's International Board of Advisers (IBA), arranged a “confidential" meeting on July 8 between president and representatives of pharmaceutical firms to find ways to circumvent the law. Malacañang denied Roxas' allegation that the meeting was proof of collusion between the Palace and the drug firms. But Duque confirmed the meeting took place, clarifying that it was only a way for Mrs. Arroyo to hear the side of the drug companies. As a result of that meeting, Duque said in an earlier interview, the President gave pharmaceutical firms 10 days (ending on July 18) to submit their proposal on how to lower prices of medicines as a voluntary act. Otherwise, Mrs. Arroyo would sign the DOH order to set a maximum retail price of 21 essential medicines. - GMANews.TV