Cheaper meds bill now law effective Sept.
By Christine Avendaño, Kristine L. Alave
Philippine Daily Inquirer, Associated Press
First Posted 00:46:00 06/07/2008
MANILA, Philippines--With the signing into law of the cheaper medicines bill Friday, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said that her administration had completed the legislative reforms needed to bring affordable medicine to the people.
The President said the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008, or Republic Act No. 9502, served to complete the 20-year-old Generics Law, which requires doctors to write on their prescriptions both the branded and generic names of the drugs they prescribe.
She signed the new law at the Laguna Provincial Hospital in Sta. Cruz, Laguna, because this was where she launched the half-priced medicines program in 2001, a Palace statement said.
The new law, which amends certain provisions of three laws--the Intellectual Property Code, the Generics Act and the Pharmacy Law--aims to cut the cost of medicines in the country which has among the priciest pharmaceuticals in Asia.
It prohibits new patents based only on newly discovered uses of a known drug and allows local companies to test, produce and register generic versions of patented drugs so they can be sold immediately after patent expiry.
It also gives the President the power to put price ceilings on various drugs and strengthens the government's drug regulatory bureau.
Full implementation will start in September after the Department of Health draws up the law's implementing rules and regulations.
The passage of the new law was a "cause for celebration because it was a tough battle to even have this law passed," said Sen. Manuel Roxas, chair of the Senate trade and commerce committee who authored the Senate version of the bill.
Roxas and other legislators responsible for the new law went to Laguna to witness the signing, among them, Senators Edgardo Angara, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Pia Cayetano, Deputy Speaker Amelita Villarosa and Rep. Teodoro Locsin Jr.
The Senate and House approved their versions of the bill on April 29. Congress transmitted the measure to Malacañang on May 21.
Opposition
The bill generated much controversy when pharmaceutical groups opposed a provision calling for doctors to prescribe only the generic versions of the drugs they prescribe.
This provision was dropped after the President asked the Department of Health not to push for it anymore so the measure could be immediately approved.
Roxas said the new law allows the government to use patents without the patent holders' consent when a health emergency is determined. It will also cut the current two-to-three year wait before the local drug industry can distribute generic counterpart drugs after a patent expires.
Trade and health officials and consumer and activist groups have criticized pharmaceutical giants for selling medicines that are often four times the price of the same drug in other countries and allegedly employing various means to extend their patents.
The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, a group of drug companies, said in a statement issued after the bill was ratified in Congress in April that it was committed to support efforts to make medicines affordable and accessible to Filipinos.
To expand Botika ng Barangay
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the law will enable the department to expand its village-based pharmacy program called the Botika ng Barangay (BNB).
There are over 7,000 Botika ng Barangay outlets nationwide, which are owned by local governments or community organizations.
With a report from AP
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