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JUST HALF THE BATTLE WON The Philippine Star
Brandishing their usual know-it-all antics, several lawmakers opposed to the bill maintained that the newly-passed bill – sans the highly suspicious generics-only and drug price monitoring board provisions – was bound to fail. Doctors, the respected and sensible ones, have been saying all along that the generics-only proposed provision was laden with health risks, and would rob patients of the right to choose either a generic medicine or its several branded counterparts. The establishment of a drug price monitoring board was likewise stricken off the final version of the bill as it hardly made sense, and instead would only mean additional costs in running a new agency, which in reality would just end up as another bureaucratic layer. Healthcare professionals, however, are in unison in reminding the government and legislators that merely passing the long delayed bill is just half the battle. The next task after President Arroyo signs the bill is to ensure that the law is effectively and efficiently implemented, all loopholes are plugged, and other obstacles hurdled the quickest possible time. Millions of Filipinos’ lives are on the line – especially during these difficult economic times. Vigilance needed To recap, three key provisions in the bill include (1) the non-granting of patents to drugs with no new components, (2) giving local firms the go-signal to develop and test medicines before its patent expires so the same could be made available immediately after the patent’s expiry, and (3) parallel importation of drugs from countries such as India where medicines can be imported at up to 80 percent cheaper than prevailing local market prices. In lieu of the drug price monitoring board, the soon-to-be signed law empowers the President and the Health secretary to monitor drug prices and set a ceiling. Between a yet-to-be-formed regulatory body which will cost several million pesos to maintain each year and the President and his/her health chief, the latter seems to be the more practical, cheaper if not more qualified alternative to monitoring drug prices. Likewise, there is the DTI with its price monitoring teams looking and going after perpetrators of artificial price hikes of essential commodities, including medicine and medical supplies. I recall during the SARS scare a few years ago when N-95 face masks were hoarded and its price jacked up many times over, Senator Roxas then as DTI chief and acting on consumers’ complaints, made surprise inspections of drug stores in Manila and those held for overpricing and hoarding were subsequently penalized. There was no need for a regulatory body then; only pro-active consumers and swift government action adequately addressed the situation. Other options In the event that there will still be importers and generic drug firms that will unscrupulously jack up prices of medicines, there is still the Botika ng Barangay and Botika ng Bayan outlets to run to for basic life-saving medicines. There may not be enough outlets yet to service majority of Filipinos, but its growing presence is already a form of counter against artificial price hikes. Plus, regional and provincial officials of the Health department, upon orders of the Health secretary and President, can easily and more rapidly monitor and correct drug prices in their areas of responsibility. New measures still needed Even as we leave the executive side of government to make sure cheaper quality medicines find their way into the country, our legislators should already start initiating moves to revise taxation laws that would exempt medicines and other life-saving products from more taxes. Bills like exempting senior citizens from taxes levied on their medicine purchases or lowering taxes on medicines sold to patients in charity wards or hospitals that make up the poorest of the poor would likewise be worth crafting and polishing. Sure, it would affect, albeit marginally, the government’s target tax collections, but then again, the key to having sufficient tax revenues is having an honest and effective collection system more than creating new sources of taxes which often are at the expense of our sick and suffering people. Look poor, will die? On another but related matter, the medical profession’s ethical behavior was once again placed on the line with the recent news of a hospital’s emergency department in the northern part of Metro Manila refusing to admit a bleeding stabbed victim reportedly because he was not accompanied by a relative. The victim was brought in by a concerned tricycle driver to a government-owned hospital, and the refusal to treat cost the victim his life.Whatever happened to the world renowned compassion of Filipino health care professionals? If that unfortunate victim was in a coat and tie, and rushed to the ER by an intelligent-looking, English speaking, well-dressed non-relative in a late model SUV or two-seater sports coupe, would he have been refused too? As usual, the last I heard of the case is that an investigation was being conducted on the matter, and that’s it. Pinatay na din ang istorya. Let’s hope that the soon to be signed cheaper medicine law will not be subjected to the same unprofessional attitude and bureaucratic neglect by those entrusted to implement the provisions of the law. Otherwise, all the hard work will end up in naught. Congratulations, Nokia Pilipinas Youth Team Our hats off to the Nokia Pilipinas Youth Team under the guidance of Head Coach Franz Pumaren for convincingly sweeping the SEABA 18-under championships held in Malaysia. The next challenge for these up-and-coming basketball stars is the FIBA Asia under-18 to be held in August in Iran. Slowly the Philippines is again visible as worthy competitors in international competitions, thanks to the support of basketball-loving individuals like Jun Sy and corporate sponsors like Tao Corporation and Nokia. On the local front, the FilOil Flying V Pre-season tournament is in full swing with many rookies displaying their potential, and coaching staff of participating teams critically viewing players’ performance in these games as they finalize their line-ups for the upcoming collegiate season. Watch the exciting games live at The Arena, San Juan. Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, SalcedoVillage, 1227 MakatiCity. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com.
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