MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the executive order (EO) that would set a maximum retail price on selected medicines, Malacanang said Monday.
“The Palace confirms that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed today, February 17, Executive Order No. 104, entitled, ‘Improving Access to Healthcare Through the Regulation of Prices in the Retail of Drugs and Medicines,'” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a statement.
“This landmark measure would impose price regulation through a Maximum Retail Price, Maximum Wholesale Price or both on certain drugs and medicines,” he added.
Senate Health Committee chair Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Duterte’s long-time aide initially made the announcement in an interview on dzMM Monday morning.
“Pinirmahan na po ito ni Pangulong Duterte,” Go said.
(The President already signed the EO).
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier proposed the regulation 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.
Under the MDRP scheme, the price of selected medicines is expected to have an average price reduction of 56 percent from current market prices.
“Matagal na po itong batas na ito,” Go said, referring to Republic Act No. 9502, or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008, which provides for the imposition of a limit on prices of medicines.
(This has been a law for so many years now).
“Alam naman natin na maraming pong mga kababayan natin ang nangangailangan ng gamot…no choice sila minsan ‘no, kaya bumili na lang po ng gamot, kahit mahal, hangarin pong humaba ang kanilang buhay. Tulad nitong mga medisina para sa diabetes hypertension, cancer at iba’t iba pang gamot,” Go added.
(We all know that a lot of Filipinos need medicines. They have no choice but to buy these medicines even if they are expensive so that they can live longer. Like medication for diabetes, hypertension, cancer and other medicines).
GSG