Duterte signs EO adding more drugs with price cap

President Rodrigo Duterte has regulated the prices of more drugs and medicines which are being used to address the leading causes of morbidity in the country.

In signing Executive Order No. 155 on Tuesday, Duterte said price regulation through Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and/or Maximum Wholesale Price (MW) would be imposed on 34 drug molecules and 71 drug formulas used in agents affecting the following conditions:

• bone metabolism,
• analgesics,
• anesthetics,
• anti-angina,
• antiarrhythmics,
• anti-asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medicines,
• antibiotics,
• anticoagulants,
• anticonvulsants,
• antidiabetic drugs,
• antidiuretics, and
• antiemetics.

EO 155 also covers drug formulas that are utilized in anti-glaucoma, anti-hypercholesterolemia medicines, antihypertensive medicines, anti-neoplastic/anti-cancer medicines, antiparkinsons drugs, drugs for overactive bladders, growth hormone inhibitors, immunosuppressant drugs, iron chelating agents, and psoriasis, seborrhea and ichthyosis medicines.

The EO mandates all manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, traders, and retailers to "display the retail price which shall not exceed the MRP."

According to acting presidential spokesman Karlo Nograles, the latest EO is part of the government's efforts "to improve access to affordable, quality medicines and reduce the health-related expenses of our countrymen, consistent with the goals of the Universal Health Care Act."

In 2020, Duterte signed EO 104 setting maximum retail price on 87 drug molecules or 133 drug formulas of selected drugs and medicines that are used to address morbidity among Filipinos.

A technical working group, which reviewed the prices of other drug molecules and formulas, recommended the imposition of MRP and MWP on the remaining drug formulas of selected medicines, leading to the signing of EO 155.

EO 155 states that the Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry are tasked to review the corresponding MRPs and MWPs six months from the effectivity of the EO, and every six months thereafter.

Violations of the EO shall be dealt with in accordance with Republic Act No. 9502 — the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 — and other related laws.

The DOH Secretary has the authority to impose administrative fines of not less than P50,000 nor more than P5,000,000 for the violations. —KBK, GMA News