The cheaper medicines lawE

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 NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The passage of the Cheaper Medicines Law, particularly the revisions of the generics-only provision in the reconciled version, was welcomed by physicians in Negros Oriental and perhaps all over the country.

The spirit of the “generics only” provision could result in a drop in the prices of both generic and branded medicines. But the provision mandating doctors to prescribe only generic names of drugs had no connection to drug pricing. These doctors are only against a certain provision concerning the use of generic names and the restriction of use of brand names in prescriptions, not the use of generic drugs itself.

Doctors in the province are glad to hear that the government has removed the “generics only” provision that required them to prescribe only generics medicines.

A former Provincial Health Officer said the lowering of the prices of drugs and medicines will benefit the general public, but the potency of the medicine must be given priority.  One of the most decisive steps to take is to develop our own national drug industry so we can have lower prices and also produce quality medicines.

We believe the doctor’s job is to provide the patients with effective drugs or medicines that they could afford but we also need medicines that could cure both the rich and the poor.*