Medicine price cap already in effect since June 2 — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — An executive order signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in February to limit the cost of several medicines is already in effect, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

“Yes po, effective na po noong (it has been effective since) June 2,” DOH pharmaceutical division chief Dr. Anna Melissa Guerrero said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Thursday when asked to confirm if Executive Order 104 was already being imposed.

The order covers 87 medicines or 133 drug formulas, including those for cancer, hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.

“Kung kasama sa listahan, makakadiskwento ang mga pasyente ng hanggang 50 percent. Hindi po lahat 50 percent. Maximum ‘yung 50 percent,” she said.

(If the medicine is included in the list, the patient can have a discount of up to 50 percent. Not all medicine is discounted by 50 percent since that is just the maximum rate.)

She said the list of drugs covered by the order is posted on the DOH website and its social media pages and will also be ordered to be posted in pharmacies and hospitals.

Guerrero said the DOH is currently studying price caps for 35 other medicines, but negotiations with its manufactures have been suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.