DOH cites other medicines eyed for 50% price cut

The Department of Health on Tuesday gave the public a sneak peek of the list of the second batch of medicines that would be subject to 50-percent price cut. Robert So, executive assistant to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, said the list would include medicines for asthma, breast cancer, high blood and infection. “Araw-araw nakatatanggap tayo ng iba’t ibang proposal para sa mga gamot na dapat babaan ang presyo, kaya meron tayong proposal na isama ang ilang gamot laban sa asthma, mga ... insulin, meron din sa breast cancer, at ibang gamot laban sa high blood at infection. Hindi tayo humihinto doon sa unang listahan. Tuluy-tuloy ang ating pagsusuri," So said over radio dzXL. (We have been receiving proposals every day and we are considering including in the second batch medicines against asthma, breast cancer, high blood and infection. The list is still evolving.). But in the meantime, he said, the DOH is focusing on ways to make sure the implementation of the 50-percent price cut for the first batch of medicines goes smoothly this coming Saturday. At least 43 are listed in the first batch of medicines whose prices are to be slashed by half. These include drug items not in the DOH list that pharmaceutical firms voluntarily added. “Syempre pinaghahandaan natin ang Aug. 15 implementation. Hindi natin inaasahang perpekto sa simula, pero at least sisikapin nating maayos at walang major problems (We are preparing for the implementation of the 50-percent price cut starting Aug. 15. We do not expect the implementation to start perfectly but at least we want it to be smooth)," So said. As for the second batch, he said the DOH and the Department of Trade and Industry are checking the prices of medicines being proposed for inclusion. “Pag nakatatanggap kami ng proposal tinitignan namin ang presyo nila sa nakaraang buwan. Gusto natin siguraduhing tama ang presyong binibigay sa akin. Pag sinabing 50% off talagang 50% off at di nagpatong ng 50% at nagbawas lang. Nagba-validate kami at siyempre sinisigurado natin na lehitimo ang proposals," So said. (When we receive proposals we check the prices one month before. We want to make sure the prices are actually lowered by 50 percent, and not jacked up just before being proposed for price cut.) So also reiterated senior citizens would still avail of a 20-percent discount after availing of the 50-percent price slash. “Dapat nirerespeto pa rin ang 20% discount ng senior citizens kahit bumaba ang presyo (Drugstores must respect senior citizens’ 20-percent discount even after medicine prices have gone down)," he said. - GMANews.TV