MANILA, Philippines?Private hospitals may yet reconsider their plan to increase their service fees.

Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said a ?fruitful? meeting with representatives of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PrHAP), the Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines and the Drugstores Association of the Philippines discussed the process of giving rebates to drugstores and hospitals for drugs bought at higher prices before the regulated 50 percent price cut took effect last Aug. 15.

Asked if PrHAP would no longer raise their fees, Padilla said: ?Based on the discussions, it seems things are headed that way. But of course they still have to go back to their own organizations and discuss it among themselves.?

PrHAP president Dr. Rustico Jimenez said some members already agreed not to push through with the hike after the meeting yesterday, adding that they had agreed on how drug companies would give the rebates.

?We really did not want to raise our fees but forced to do it because of the delay in the rebates,? he said.

The PrHAP pressed the government to defer the implementation of law until the association?s 800 members are able to adjust their inventories and negotiate with suppliers.

Jimenez told a seminar in Clark Freeport, Pampanga province that they were not against the law, but would want government to review the rules and regulations so private hospitals would not incur more losses.

He said hospital pharmacies usually stock up on various medicines for bulk order discounts. These were bought at regular prices before Republic Act No. 9502, or the cheaper medicines law, took effect, he added.