Roxas to GMA: Get back to work, slash drug prices

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today asked President Arroyo to get back to work now that she’s back in the country and sign an important executive order that imposes maximum retail price on the most vital drugs in the country.

In fact, Roxas said, Mrs. Arroyo should shake off the travel bug and even include the anti-flu drug Tamiflu as the 23rd medicine in the MRP list submitted to her by the Department of Health to make it more accessible to flu-scared consumers nationwide.

"Get back to work. Sign the executive order for the MRP so Filipinos can finally buy affordable and quality medicines in drugstores," Roxas said as GMA wound up a 13-day trip to Japan, the United States, Colombia, Brazil and Hong Kong at the height of the A(H1N1) flu scare in the country.

"Matagal ng inaantay ng taumbayan ang abot-kaya at de-kalidad na gamot. Isang taon simula nang maging batas ito, wala pa ring mabiling murang gamot ang taumbayan sa mga botika," lamented the primary author of the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Law.

The DOH has submitted the draft EO on the MRP to the Office of the President last June 16. The President’s approval is necessary before the department could start imposing price ceilings on the top 22 prescribed medicines in the country, which includes, among others, hypertension, diabetes and anti-bacterial drugs.

Roxas renewed his call to include Tamiflu (Generic: Oseltamivir) and other anti-viral drugs in the MRP, stressing the need to put price ceilings on the drugs to ensure their affordability.

He noted the spiraling costs of medicines that treat symptoms of the A(H1N1) flu. Tamiflu had previously cost only P40/capsule before the flu virus began spreading in the country. It is now sold at an average of P150 to P155 apiece.

"Kailangang siguruhin nating abot-kaya ang halaga ng mga gamot laban sa A(H1N1)" the Visayan senator said.

"Responsibilidad ng pamahalaan na panatilihing malusog ang taumbayan. Bakit kailangang unahin ang biyahe bago bigyan ang taumbayan ng murang gamot?" he added.

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | posted in a(h1n1), cheaper medicines bill, health, mar roxas, pgma, president, tamiflu | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas to DOH: Do your job, enforce cheap meds law

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday said local pharmaceutical companies could expect a more robust industry if government properly implements the one year-old Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines law.

Roxas, primary author of the law, noted the 12% reported growth of the local pharmaceutical industry just a year after medicine patent rules were relaxed.

"Magandang balita ito. Ngunit higit sanang masigla ang industriya kung maging mas masigasig pa ang pagpapatupad sa batas na ito," he said.

He added: "Ngayong nagsisimula nang talagang kumikilos ang DOH para ipatupad ang batas para sa murang gamot, maaasahan nating mas lalong mararamdaman ang magagandang epekto para sa sambayanan."

The landmark law mandates healthier competition in the pharmaceutical industry by relaxing patent rules that have hindered local pharmaceutical firms from producing generic medicines. However, the price reductions that resulted from this have not yet been enough, he said.

He reiterated his appeal to President Arroyo not to heed active lobbying by international drug companies and to instead immediately sign the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) for the top 22 prescribed medicines in the country, which the DOH endorsed to the Office of the President last June 16.

"Gloria, pirmahan mo na agad itong MRP. Patunayan mo ang pangako mong pangangalagaan mo ang kalusugan ng ating mamamayan. Pirma mo lang ang kailangan para mangalahati ang presyo ng gamot," he stressed.

"Huwag mo ng pansinin ang mga dambuhalang kumpanya na patuloy na hinaharang ang pagpapatupad ng batas. Patunayan mo ang sinseridad mo sa taumbayan," he added.

Under the DOH-proposed MRP, prices of 22 most prescribed medicines in the country would be slashed by 50%. The initial list includes anti-hypertensive, anti-cholesterol, anti-diabetic, antibiotics and anti-neoplastic drugs.

Some of these branded drugs are the anti-hypertensive drug Norvasc, the price of which would drop to P22.50 from the present P44.50; anti-diabetic Diamicron, P7.35 from P14.75; antibiotic Flagyl, P66 from P132; antibiotic Zithromax, P149.37 from P298.75; antibiotic Tazocin, P1061.86 from P2,123.75; antibiotic Augmention suspension 60 ml, P179.50 from P359; Augmentin suspension 70 ml, P439.50 from P879; and anti-neoplastic Carboplatin 450 mg vial, P2117.61 from P4857.15.

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 | posted in cheaper medicines bill, doh, health, mar roxas, pgma, president | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas to DTI, DOH on A(H1N1): Be ahead of the curve

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas stressed that the government, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Health (DOH) should ensure fullest possible access to critical goods needed to deal with a possible Influenza A(H1N1) emergency situation.

"Pangunahan na ng gobyerno ang sitwasyon. Dapat maghanda ito sa posibleng pagbulusok ng A(H1N1) Flu. Dapat abot-kamay ng publiko ang mga kinakailangang produkto para sugpuin ang sakit na ito," he said.

"The supply of Tamiflu is not the only critical element. Once an emergency situation sets in, the demand for preventive products like disinfectants, sanitizers, alcohols, masks, and even multivitamins could shoot up. The government has to be ahead of the curve and be prepared for this scenario," he stressed.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade and Commerce said DTI and DOH, together with other government agencies involved in combating A(H1N1) flu, should form a task force to identify all critical goods and preventive products, monitor their prices, secure their sources of supply and prepare for possible price controls.

"The government should also be on the guard against unscrupulous businessmen who take advantage of the situation, as well as against misleading advertising messages prescribing sham cures", he said.

"Hindi dapat payagang abusuhin tayo ng mga loko sa negosyo. Dapat mangibabaw ang interes ng publiko sa lahat ng oras, lalo na sa panahon ng kagipitan," the former DTI secretary said.

"Information should be delivered as to which disinfectant products in the market are most effective in preventing the spread of the virus," he added.

Furthermore, he said the task force should give special focus to urban poor communities that are the most vulnerable to disease contagion because of congestion, lack of water and lack of access to preventive and curative goods.

"Magtulungan tayo. Magsama tayo’t labanan ang problemang dala ng AH1N1 sa ating bansa," Roxas said.

Friday, June 19, 2009 | posted in a(h1n1), doh, dti, health, mar roxas, philippines, tamiflu | 0 comments [ More ]

Roxas bats for universal health coverage for all Filipinos

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas yesterday proposed the coverage of all Filipinos under the National Health Insurance Program.

"Mahalaga ang kalusugan ng mamamayan. Dapat hindi lang ‘voluntary’ sa mga kayang nagbabayad ng premium ang coverage ng PhilHealth kundi sakop ang lahat (Our people’s health is important. PhilHealth coverage should not only be 'voluntary' on those who are paying premiums but to all Filipinos)," he said.

"Ngayon, nagkakaroon lang ng PhilHealth coverage ang mga indigent kapag kasama sila sa mga pinili ng mayor nila. Pero wala dapat pulitika pagdating sa kalusugan ng mamamayan (Now, indigents are covered by PhilHealth only when the mayors decide to include them in their lists. But politics should not be a consideration when it comes to our people’s health)," he stressed.

Roxas is proposing that all Filipinos should have a basic level of health care benefits to be provided by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. or PhilHealth. Such universal coverage will be funded by the National Budget through premium payments to PhilHealth.

"Dapat hindi pabayaan ng gobyerno ang kalusugan ng mamamayan. Ipaglalaban natin ito (The government should not neglect the health of all Filipinos. We will fight for this right)," he stressed.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 | posted in health, mar roxas, philhealth, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Senator Mar Roxas launches MurangGamot.Com

Just this week, Senator Mar Roxas launched a new website called "MurangGamot.Com" as part of his continuing advocacy for quality and cheaper medicines.

The site is still new. It informs the people about what Republic Act No. 9502 or the "Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008" is and its benefits, provides a price list of 12 common medicines in the Philippines and most of all, the list of all Botika ng Bayan branches in the country.

You can also contact them to share your thoughts about Senator Roxas' new website for cheaper medicines or ask questions.

Don't hesitate to call or text Senator Roxas' cheaper medicines hotline at 0917-MAROXAS (6276927) for more information. Let's nag the government to have more Botika ng Bayan and implement the said law. Visit www.muranggamot.com for more details.

"The government is slow in implementing the law. That's why we need to persist in pressuring the government to implement it now... The Arroyo government has been in power for eight years. In fact, the Estrada government has put in place a program for quality and affordable medicines. We should not prolong the people's pain any longer. The law must be implemented now" - Senator Mar Roxas

Saturday, February 14, 2009 | posted in barangay health corps, botika ng bayan, cheaper medicines bill, doh, health, mar roxas, philippines | 0 comments [ More ]

Mar Roxas on Health

The Problem

Costly Medicines: Many Filipinos has been suffering and dying because of not being able to buy the medicines needed for their family members. 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. Unfortunately, despite the passage of Mar Roxas' Universally Accessible Quality and Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008, the Arroyo government has not been able to allocate P10 billion on top of the budgets of various agencies implementing the Cheaper Medicines Act. This makes these agencies unable to implement the said measure despite the law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Neglected Botika ng Bayan: After Roxas' term ended in the Department of Trade and Industry, the then newly-opened Botika ng Bayan stores, whom he envisioned to sell cheaper medicines for the people, upped the prices, dismaying the public and prompting them to go back to buying their medicines from big pharmacies that sold expensive drugs.

Mar Roxas' Action

Quality and Cheaper Medicines: Roxas, being the principal author of Republic Act 9502, also known as the Universally Accessible Quality and Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008, that would bring down the cost of medicines in the Philippines by allowing "parallel importation" of patented medicines from other countries where these are more affordable; prohibiting the grant of new patents based only on newly-discovered uses of a known drug substance; allowing local generics firms to test, produce and register their generic versions of patented drugs, so these can be sold right upon patent expiry; giving the President the power to impose price ceilings on various drugs, upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Health; and strengthening the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) in order for it to ensure the safety of medicines.

Allow LGUs to use funds to import Cheaper Medicines: Roxas wants to let the Department of Budget and Management to allow local government units (LGUs) to use its funds to purchase quality and affordable medicines directly from the Philippine International Trading Corp.

Barangay Health Corps: Roxas wants address the need to bring quality health services to the barangay level. In the Senate, he has filed the Senate Bill No. 3012, or the proposed Barangay Health Workers Act of 2009, that seeks to appoint at least five (5) barangay health workers in each of the country's 41,994 barangays. To ensure that they are qualified, Roxas wants to let them be duly-accredited by the municipal or city health board in accordance with guidelines set by the Department of Health (DoH).

More Botika ng Bayan: Roxas wants to let the government and the private sector to invest in establishing drugstore outlets accessible to all 45,000 barangays so that quality and affordable medicines to be truly accessible to the poor.

Mar Roxas' Record

Record of Advocacy: Cheaper medicines has been Roxas' major advocacy even during his time as Congressman in the House of Representatives where, against pressure from different interests, particularly multinational drug companies, he fought for the right of every Filipino to quality affordable medicines, a personal advocacy adopted since the death of his brother from a lingering illness at the young age of 32.

This crusade was founded on the Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya program, launched during his tenure as Trade and Industry Secretary, which benefited millions of Filipinos direly in need of effective, low-cost medicines. During his stint in the DTI, he negotiated for trade concessions to be granted to developing countries under the Trade Related Intellectual Property System (TRIPS) international agreement. In the Senate, the crusade continued with Roxas’ authorship of Republic Act No. 9502, or the Universally Accessible, Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008, signed into law in June 7, 2008.

Roxas is now fighting for the proper implementation of the law, and considers the Senate’s approval of a P1-billion budget in 2009 for the parallel importation of cheap medicines in 2009 as an important step in that direction.

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Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | posted in campaign, health, issues, mar roxas | [ More ]