Senator Mar Roxas urged his fellow legislators to push for the bill seeking quality and affordable medicines before the 13th Congress ends in June.

Roxas said in a press release yesterday that the bill is a very important piece of health legislation, adding that providing quality and affordable medicines to its people should be a moral imperative for the government. The Senate has approved Senate Bill 2263, which seeks to open up access to quality, more affordable medicines to all Filipinos,

on third reading on January 31 this year.

The House version, House Bill 6035, was passed on second reading last February 20.

Roxas, primary author and sponsor of the bill, said that Congress has only until next week to address the urgent need for quality and affordable medicines, the press release said.

Congress will resume on June 4, after an almost four-month break, and is expected to adjourn on June 6.

Roxas said he also welcomed the active engagement of stakeholder groups to make sure that the landmark legislation is passed within the 13th Congress. Among the groups are British aid agency Oxfam, the 3CP Net (Cut the Cost, Cut the Pain Network), AGAP (Ayos na Gamot sa Abot-kayang Presyo), Third World Network, Philippine Legislators Committee on Population and Development.

He said the snowballing of support makes the quest for cheaper and affordable medicines more worthwhile.

The consolidated version of the bill is already underway, Roxas said, adding that if there is a quorum, the House is expected to pass the bill on third reading on Monday, the press release further said.*

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