Senator Roxas to Department of Budget and Management: Allow LGUs to use funds to import Cheap Meds

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas said the Department of Budget and Management should allow local government units (LGUs) to use its funds to purchase quality and affordable medicines directly from the Philippine International Trading Corp.

Roxas—in partnership with City Government of Baguio, DSWD-Baguio and DOH-CAR— last Friday held a medical mission and forum on the Universally Accessible, Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 at the Sunshine Park, which was attended by about 600 senior citizens.

"Mas mabilis ang pagdating ng murang gamot sa kamay ng taumbayan kung kalahok ang mga LGU sa programang ito (The LGUs' participation in the cheaper medicines program will hasten the access of the people to quality and affordable medicines), the primary author of the landmark law said.

"Kaya dapat nang payagan ng DBM ang mga LGU na bumili ng murang gamot sa PITC gamit ang nakalaang pondo nila. (DBM should allow LGUs to use its allocated funds for cheaper medicines through the PITC)," he said.

During the forum, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Chairperson of the Baguio City Council Social Welfare and Development Committee, conveyed to Roxas that it would be faster for LGUs like Baguio City to purchase medicines for their senior citizens and other sectors in need if DBM exempts from the normal yet lengthy bidding process any direct purchase of medicines from the PITC.

To which, Roxas replied that direct purchases from PITC—which is mandated to import quality and affordable medicines from other countries—should be considered a government-to-government transaction which involves the protection and saving of human lives, thus, negotiated procurement may be allowed.

"Ang mahalaga ay madala natin sa taumbayan ang abot-kaya at de-kaledad na gamot. Magtulungan tayo para mapabilis ang aksyon ng gobyerno (It's important that we bring quality and affordable medicines to the people through the fastest possible process. Let's help each other so government action would be swifter)," he stressed.

Sunday, January 25, 2009 | posted in baguio city, betty lourdes tabanda, cheaper medicines bill, dbm, doh, dswd, mar roxas, pitc | 1 comments [ More ]

Senator Roxas calls for Botika ng Bayan accessible to every barangay

For quality and affordable medicines to be truly accessible to the poor, Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas called on the government and private sector to invest in establishing drugstore outlets accessible to all 45,000 barangays.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce stressed that prices of medicines in the Philippines remains among the highest in the region - including the 11 vital drugs that each Filipino should have access to.

“Kulang na kulang pa ang mga Botika ng Bayan. Kasabay ng pagpapababa sa presyo ng gamot, kailangan din nating siguruhing may mapagbibilhan ng mga gamot na ito (We have too few Botika ng Bayan outlets nationwide. Together with the fight to lower medicine prices, we should also ensure that these medicines are easily accessible to the public),” he said.

“Kailangang itulak pa ang pagpaparami ng mga Botika ng Bayan. Kulitin natin ang gobyerno na maglaan ng pondo rito. Manawagan din tayo sa pribadong sektor na magpundar sa layuning ito (We should push for more Botika ng Bayan outlets. Let’s continue to call on the government to allocate funds for this. Let’s also call on the private sector to invest in this cause),” he stressed.

Roxas, primary author of the Universally Accessible, Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008, said that cheaper versions of the 11 vital drugs–which are up to 90% cheaper than branded counterparts–should be promoted and made available to all parts of the country.

For instance, Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) costs P27.30 per 50mg capsule, while it could be sourced at only P1.50 per capsule. Antiox (Mebendazole) costs P60 per 500mg tablet, while it could be sourced at only P4.50 per tablet.

The Ilonggo senator pointed out that at present, there are about 1,800 Botika ng Bayan outlets nationwide. However, he pointed out that the number of existing Botika ng Bayan outlets is only more than half of the government’s own target of 3,300 outlets in 2010, as indicated in the National Statistical Coordination Board’s Statistical Indicators on Philippine Development.

“Panawagan nating magkaroon ng 18,000 pang Botika ng Bayan para mailapit talaga sa taumbayan ang mabisa at abot-kayang gamot. Kung kaya nga nating bawat isa sa 45,000 barangay sa bansa, bakit hindi natin gawin? (We call for at least 18,000 more Botika ng Bayan outlets so that quality and affordable medicines are within reach by the people. If we can even put in place a drug store in each of the 45,000 barangays in the country, let’s DOH it),” he said.

Botika ng Bayan are privately-owned retail drug outlets where cheaper medicines purchased by the Philippine International Trading Corp. through parallel importation and other means are sold.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009 | posted in botika ng bayan, cheaper medicines bill, doh, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, pitc, president | 3 comments [ More ]

Roxas: War for Affordable Medicines starts after enactment

As a landmark law for affordable medicines is signed today, Senator Mar Roxas urged the executive to use the new law as a weapon against the unjust regime of exorbitantly-priced medicines that have long resulted in lives cut short.

Roxas, the principal author of the Universally Accessible, Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act said that to jumpstart the law's implementation, the President must immediately allocate at least P1 billion for the parallel importation program. She should also direct the Bureau of Food and Drugs to fast-track reforms using its own earnings as now permitted by the law.

"To win the war against unjust drug prices, the government must set aside at least P1 billion for parallel importation of essential maintenance drugs. Ensuring wide public access to affordable medicines is underpins a national strategy for longer and healthier lives," he said.

Roxas said government agencies must finalize the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) at the soonest possible time. In drafting the IRR, he said the broadest sectors must be involved and consulted with by the government to thwart any efforts to derail the noble intentions of the law.

"Our battle does not end with the skirmishes we won in Congress. Those with vested interests have the money and power to see to it that the law will fail. The war for more affordable medicines can be won if we put up a united front against those who prefer to keep the status quo," the chair of the Senate trade and commerce committee said.

Yesterday, Roxas met with leaders of various labor groups and discussed how they could bring in more affordable medicines for their members, be it through the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) or by themselves engaging in parallel importation. He reported that the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines expressed interest in pursuing parallel importation of essential drugs for its members.

"I am optimistic that the different sectors will rally behind the crusade for affordable medicines. TUCP Secretary-General Ernesto Herrera will sit down next week with PITC officials to concretize the initial steps toward parallel importation. I will continue to work with other sectors that are wiling to use this law to promote better health among their members," he said.

The Liberal Party President stressed that his 10-year battle for quality and affordable medicines does not end today with the enactment of the law. He said passing this law is just the first step; making sure that the government uses all the tools available under the law and pooling the support of the broader sectors would be the next campaign.

"Our war for more affordable, accessible and quality medicines for our people continues. On my part, we will meet with various civil society groups, labor groups, private entities, among others, to pull them in and be involved in bringing down prices of medicines," he said.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 | posted in bfad, cheaper medicines bill, doh, mar roxas, pgma, philippines, pitc, president, tucp | 0 comments [ More ]