Physicians in Negros Oriental welcomed the revisions on the Cheaper Medicines Law, particularly the generics-only provision, in the reconciled version of the statute.

The provision that requires doctors to prescribe only generics medicines have been removed in the revised version of the law, which aims to reduce the prices of both generic and branded medicines.

Former Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ely Villapando said yesterday that doctors in Negros Oriental were glad to hear that the government has removed the generics only provision. Several local doctors had earlier protested the provision when the bill was still pending in Congress, he said.

Physicians under the Philippine Medical Association had threatened to hold a hospital holiday in protest of the provision.

Villapando said the lowering of the prices of drugs and medicines will benefit the public, but stressed that the effects of the medicine must be first considered.

“Physicians do not oppose the idea of making the medicines affordable. We would want that it to happen, too, because we also feel the crisis,” he said.

He added, however, that doctors also have to think of the welfare of the public. As doctors, their job is to provide the masses with effective drugs and medicine that they can afford, he said.*RG

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