DOH asked to name pharma firms opposing lower medicine prices

Sen. Risa Hontiveros. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to identify the pharmaceutical companies reportedly opposing the move to lower prices of medicines.

“Nanawagan ako sa DOH na pangalanan ang mga pharmaceutical companies na mas inuuna pa ang kanilang malalaking tubo at kita kaysa sa buhay at kalusugan ng mamamayan. Sa panahon na kaliwa’t kanan ang epidemiya at mga nagkakasakit, ang presyo ng gamot ay hindi dapat dagdag-pasakit,” Hontiveros said Tuesday night during the plenary deliberation of DOH’s budget for 2020.

(I am calling on the DOH to name the pharmaceutical companies who are prioritizing their profits over the lives and health of the people. At a time when there is an epidemic, the price of medicines should not be another burden.)

According to Hontiveros, “there is reportedly a strong lobby from several pharmaceutical companies opposing the proposed use of government’s regulatory powers under the Cheaper Medicines Act (RA 9502) to lower the ‘unfair and anti-poor’ prices of much-needed medicines nationwide.”

Earlier, the DOH listed a total of 120 high-cost medicines that will be recommended for price reduction under a maximum drug retail price (MDRP) scheme.

These medicines treat leading diseases and catastrophic conditions including hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung diseases, and major cancers.

“While I welcome the willingness of pharmaceutical companies to work towards improving the country’s healthcare system, I would like to remind them that it is the exorbitant prices of medicines charged in both public and private sectors which have undermined the effective delivery of health services, to the detriment of poor and even middle-class families,” Hontiveros pointed out.

Previously, Hontiveros said medicines in the Philippines remain “out of reach” for Filipinos, hence the need to lower its prices to make it more accessible.

The senator cited a DOH-commissioned study, which found out that prices of medicines in the country are “still significantly higher” than international reference prices.

Edited by KGA