Duterte throws support to EO on drug price cap

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed to support the Department of Health’s (DOH) efforts to lower prices of selected high-cost medicines under the Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) scheme.

The health department last month said the proposed Executive Order on MDRP is being discussed and refined with the help of the Department of Finance, Department of Trade and Industry, National Economic Development Authority, and the Philippine Competition Commission to ensure that the final price reduction initiative of the Duterte administration will have health and economic balance.

Duterte, in an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN aired Monday, said he would even sign the proposed EO “twice over” as it is good of the Filipino people.

“I will sign it. I will sign it. That’s good for the Filipino, reduced prices or maintaining a price. I will even sign the document twice over,” Duterte said.

The DOH has proposed to regulate prices of over 120 drugs used to treat several diseases and health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung diseases, neonatal diseases or those affecting newborn babies, and major cancers.

The President, however, claimed that the draft of the EO has yet to reach his table.

“Wala pa, maybe they are reviewing it. Kapag nasa table ko, sa gabi, binabasa ko. I have not come across any, I heard of it but hard facts are not yet there. But in principle, I will even sign it twice over,” he said.