Those medicine
bills in Congress

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor ERIC T. LORETIZO Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

It is about time that the members of Congress prove that they are truly concerned about the welfare of the people by acting on the bills they themselves have filed, seeking to lower the prices of medicines sold in the country by giant pharmaceutical companies.

Recently, reports have come out showing that the costs of medicines in the Philippines are the highest among all the ASEAN countries. Compared to such countries as India and Pakistan, it was reported, some medicines sold by such companies here are priced by as much as 4,000 percent more.

This is not only shocking, but also unconscionable, because most of these medicines are the ones prescribed for such dangerous ailments as hypertension and heart diseases, which requires continuous use to counter their effects as well as to save and prolong life.

Studies made by the National Drug Policy Program of the Department of Health have confirmed this great discrepancy in prices of very vital medicines which, it also said, are controlled by the multi-national companies through their franchises.

The studies noted the factors affecting the pricing scheme as the monopoly of patents and brand names by multi-national drug firms, the heavy dependence on imported drugs, transfer pricing, and ineffective implementation of the Generics Act of 1988.

Knowing all this should make the passage of the bills already introduced in Congress easier and faster. There is supposedly House Bill No. 499, seeking to shorten the patent of pharmaceutical products from 20 to 10 years only, H.B. No. 305 and H.B. 3820, proposing to bring down the cost of medicines by establishing and maintaining an effective drug regulatory system and setting up a coordinating or price regulation board.

So what are the congressmen sponsors of these bills waiting for? Is something stopping them in their tracks? If there is any measure that should automatically be classed as urgent, it is one that will assure good health and quality life for our people.*