MULTINATIONAL FIRMS TO BLOCK CHEAP DRUGS LAW - DOH
MANILA, MAY 7, 2008 (STAR) By Helen Flores - Even as multinational drug firms are expected to block before the Supreme Court the implementation of the “Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008,” Filipinos can avail themselves of cheaper medicines by the end of the year, health officials said yesterday.Speaking at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Hotel media forum, Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said that the government has been providing the public with affordable medicines through community-run drug stores like the Botika ng Barangay and Botika ng Bayan.
“The law authorizes us to come out with the (implementing) rules and regulations within four months after the signing (of the law) but even now, some essential medicines are already available at low prices at the Botika ng Barangay,” Padilla said.
“But the impact of the entire Cheaper Medicines Act that covers all medicines would be felt by Filipinos hopefully by the end of the year,” he said.
The new cheap drugs law reconciled House Bill 2844 and Senate Bill 1658 and was passed by Congress last April 29. It aims to make medicines more affordable for Filipinos.
Padilla said President Arroyo is expected to sign the bill this week.
Asked if the drugs law would be smoothly implemented, Padilla said: “No. For one, the big pharmaceutical companies will battle us all the way, every step of the way, they might go to the court, they might threaten to pull out their operations in the country if we regulate them too much.”
“Looking at the way they acted for the past so many years when they delayed this bill, it doesn’t mean that they would give up, now that we have the law,” he said.
Padilla called on Congress to also pass House Bill No. 3293 or the Comprehensive Food, Drugs, Devices, Cosmetics & Health Products Act of 2007 which, he said, would complement the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
HB No. 3293 seeks to strengthen the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), Padilla said.
“The government is expecting more importations with the passage of the Cheaper Medicines bill, (but) we need a strengthened BFAD due to the anticipated huge volume of imported medicines,” he said.
He added that BFAD has currently 300 workers nationwide, regulating some 25,000 products.
The passage of the bill will allow the BFAD to hire more workers and acquire modern equipment, the official said.
“BFAD might be overburdened by the entry of more medicines in the country. This might delay the issuance of permits,” Padilla said.
Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Roxas II, one of the principal authors of the bill, said that under the law, the Department of Health (DOH) is authorized to create an office that will administer the law.
“The law authorizes DOH to reorganize,” Roxas told the same forum.
Earlier, Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, (4th District), author of HB 2844, said the ratification was the “fruit of tedious deliberations and compromises.”
Roxas said the law aims to strengthen the generics industry in the country
Reported by: Sol Jose Vanzi
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