Taming the market

In response to the mounting public clamor for lower prices of life-saving drugs, the government finally stepped in to tame the unregulated drug market. Last July, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo issued Executive Order 821 to slash the prices essential medicines in half. The move came more than a year after Mrs. Arroyo signed into law Republic Act 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008. However, the EO only covers five essential drugs: the anti-hypertensive Amlodipine, anti-cholesterol Atorvastatin; anti-infection Azithromycin, and anti-cancer Cytarabine and Doxorubicin. Sixteen other medicines were left to the voluntary compliance of companies. Consumers’ Action for Empowerment convenor Eleanor M. Nolasco points out that the EO does not include “first-line" medicines needed for the treatment of more prevalent diseases. These include the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the country – respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, pneumonia, and tuberculosis. Section 23 of R.A. 9502 mandates the government to impose maximum retail price on the following drugs: (a) all drugs and medicines indicated for chronic illnesses and life threatening conditions such as: endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes mellitus); gastro-intestinal disorders (e.g., peptic ulcers); urologic disorders (eg., benign prostatic hyperplasia); cardiovascular disease (e.g., hypertension); pulmonary disease (e.g., pulmonary tuberculosis and asthma); auto-immune disease (e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus); skin disease (e.g., psoriasis); neuro-psychiatric disorders; other infectious disease such as HIV-AIDS and other conditions such as organ transplant and neoplasm b) drugs and medicines indicated for prevention of diseases such as vaccines, immunoglubin, and anti-sera c) drugs and medicines for prevention of pregnancy such as contraceptives d) anesthetic agents e) intravenous fluids f) drugs and medicines that are included in the Philippine National Drug Formulary Essential Drug List g) all other drugs and medicines which from time to time, the secretary of the DOH determines to be in need of price regulation Compounding the problem is the non-compliance of drug stores and hospital pharmacies to Mrs. Arroyo’s directive. On Tuesday, the Department of Health National Drug Policy unit chief, Dr. Robert Louie So warned establishments that continue to defy the price-cut order of stiff penalties. He said fines would range from P1,000 to as high as P5 million per medicine sold at old prices. Repeat offenders face closure, according to So. - GMANews.TV