20 drug stores near DOH office defy 50% price cut

Two weeks into the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Act, a health official admitted that 20 drug stores and hospitals near the Department of Health’s (DOH) main office in Manila have yet to enforce the 50-percent price cut on essential medicines. In a television interview, DOH Undersecretary Alex Padilla explained that this is a ploy by hospitals and nearby pharmacies to evade the Aug. 15 imposition of the law. “It could be one way of circumventing the law. Sasabihin wala ‘yung gamot sa ospital bibili dun sa tabing botika at bibilin nila sa presyo na mahal (They [hospitals] would claim that they don’t have the particular medicine that a buyer wants and instead advice the buyer to purchase the drug in the nearby pharmacies where prices are higher)," Padilla said. Earlier, the DOH slapped four drug stores with a cease and desist order after they were found allegedly violating the Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP). The drug stores are Stardust Drug and Medical Supplies Corporation, Cheer-Up Drug Store, Sunburst Drug Corporation all in Rizal Avenue in front of the Department of Health and the South Star Drug located in Matalino Street, Diliman, Quezon City. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III gave the drug stores 72 hours to defend themselves. Republic Act 9502 or the Cheaper Medicines Law took effect on Aug. 15. DOH officials led by Duque called on the hospitals and pharmacies to immediately enforce the new prices. [See: 80 to 90% of RP drug stores complied with price cuts - DOH] Small pharmacies were given until September 15 to comply with the law. But Padilla clarified that only pharmacies located far from the hospitals are covered by the Sept. 15 deadline. The rest were ordered to follow the Aug. 15 imposition. On Sunday, Duque admitted that there is still much fine-tuning before the 50-percent price cut on essential medicines is enforced nationwide. But he assured the public that the government is already intensifying its campaign to make the law fully operational. [See: 50% price cut on drugs needs fine-tuning - DOH] Aie Balagtas See, GMANews.TV