RP-MADE DRUG VS BIRD FLU TO BE SOLD SOON
MANILA, November 5, 2005 (STAR) Hoping for the best and bracing for the worst, the government has commissioned a local pharmaceutical company to produce the country’s version of the antibiotic used to treat avian influenza or bird flu.Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) president and CEO Roberto Pagdanganan said final arrangements are underway for the procurement of materials from India for the manufacture of the antibiotic Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) in the Philippines.
The PITC is a government-run corporation that is engaged in importation of cheap generic medicines for distribution nationwide through the Botica ng Bayan network.
"We are working closely with the United Laboratories Inc. (Unilab) for the production of Tamiflu, a branded medicine produced by Swiss drug company Roche Holding AG, so that it will be available in case of any bird flu outbreak," Pagdanganan told a weekly media forum at the Rembrandt Hotel in Quezon City.
He said the local version of Tamiflu will be made available in "Botica ng Bayan" and "Botica ng Barangay" outlets for half the current market price. A 10-capsule pack of Tamiflu costs P1,400 to P1,750.
While Tamiflu does not cure avian influenza, it can reduce the severity of a bird flu infection and slow the spread of a pandemic.
Fear of the avian influenza virus spiked after Roche announced that it has temporarily suspended all supplies of Tamiflu to major drugstores, saying it will only fill orders for government stockpiles.
While the Roche patent on Tamiflu’s formulation will expire in 2016 yet, the Swiss drug company has consented to let other drug companies manufacture the drug.
Pagdanganan also said the local production of off-patent medicines — drugs which are no longer exclusively distributed as part of the manufacturer’s patent — is part the program of the PTIC to break up the medicine cartel in the country, which has resulted in the high cost of medicine.
"The government is determined to break up the cartel in the distribution of medicine by setting up a network of (government-run drugstores) as outlets for cheap, imported medicines," he said.
The PTIC chief said prices of medicines in the leading drug stores in the county are almost twice that of imported medicine from India which are available in the Botica ng Bayan outlets.
Pagdanganan said a 250 mg capsule of the anti-inflammatory drug Ponstan is sold at the Botica ng Barangay for P 4.15, less than half the drugstore price of P11.
"The government wants to bring down the cost of the medicine within the reach of the poor patients," he said.
Red Cross on alert
The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) put all of its chapters nationwide on alert against the possible entry of avian influenza in the country.
PNRC chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon said each chapter must re-activate its "Chapter Core Disseminators" who underwent training on Public Health and Disaster Response and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Gordon also instructed them to produce information materials on avian influenza that would be distributed in schools and community health centers.
"We have to be ready for the imminent threat of pandemic in Southeast Asia related to avian flu. There have been confirmed cases in our neighboring countries like Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. The PNRC has taken preparedness and response efforts to assist the government in its efforts to prep up for the possible advent of bird flu," he noted.
The country’s beefed up its preventive efforts against avian influenza with the onset of the migration season for wild birds coming from neighboring countries.
It is feared that migratory birds will bring in the virus which has already affected Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Vietnam.
PNRC secretary Vic Liozo claimed that Avian Flu Preventive Education has already been integrated to all Red Cross training courses being offered nationwide.
Aside from these, PNRC volunteers have also been assigned to help in monitoring bird sanctuaries, poultry, pet shops, markets, cockpit arenas and slaughter houses.
"We don’t want to be caught off-guard when an outbreak hits us. The PNRC’s standard procedure is to predict, plan, prepare, practice, cope, mitigate, rescue, relieve and rehabilitate in each situation," Liozo added.
Meanwhile, Government Mass Media Group chief Secretary Cerge Remonde said yesterday that the government would seek the help of advertising agencies and the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) in raising awareness of the deadly bird flu.
Remonde and Agriculture Secretary Domingo Panganiban were appointed to head the government’s "bird flu watch" by President Arroyo earlier this week.
Remonde and Panganiban said the dissemination of the correct information on the avian influenza virus would greatly help in preventing the virus’ entry into the country.
"We will seek the help of the brightest minds in the advertising industry and the KBP to educate and warn the people about bird flu," Remonde said in a telephone interview.
The task of providing the daily "bird flu updates" ordered Wednesday by Mrs. Arroyo falls on Remonde’s shoulders.
During the launch of the government’s public awareness campaign on bird flu, the President conducted a round-table discussion aired by RPN-9 with Panganiban, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) Director Davinio Catbagan.
Mrs. Arroyo said she would attend the daily televised updates whenever possible to stress the importance of public vigilance and a cooperative effort in preventing the entry or spread of bird flu in the Philippines.
Panganiban, as the "anti-avian flu czar" spearheads the multi-agency task force which was organized to prevent avian influenza from entering the country — a move designed as much to protect the local poultry industry as much as it is designed to protect the public at large. — Perseus Echeminada, Sheila Crisostomo, Paolo Romero
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
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by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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