25 January 2008

There is no need to have a generics-only provision in the Cheap Medicine Bill based on evidence that more and more Filipinos are buying generic drugs.

• Recent SWS survey said that Filipinos buying generic drugs increased from 47% in 2003 to 54% in 2006.
• 45% of Filipinos now say that medicine prices have gone cheaper compared to the 7% who said the same in 2001.
• 6 out of 10 Filipinos in the D and E classes have bought or access to generic drugs.

In short, more Filipinos are now better informed and are exercising their right to choose the medicines that worked for them and which they can afford. More Filipinos now perceived that generic drugs are just as safe and effective and are perfect substitute for branded ones.

There are other regulatory mechanisms that we can use such as the present reimbursement policy of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation wherein only prescription written in generics is reimbursed.

The thrust of the Department of Health (DOH) is for all Filipinos to have access to safe and quality medicines whether generic or branded as long as they are affordable. By employing intellectual property flexibilities, what we aim is a market where generic and branded drugs prices converge at an affordable level for all Filipinos.

In passing the bill, the DOH urges our lawmakers to give equal priority to the BFAD Strengthening Bill, which will further strengthen it as an institution that can ensure the safety of drugs whether they are generics or branded at all times.

During the 20th year of the Generics Law, the DOH will intensify promotional campaigns to increase consumer acceptance of generics, to encourage more generic-prescribing doctors and to allow generic substitution in our pharmacies.

We now urge our doctors, pharmacists and other health workers to fully support the cheaper medicine bill and the principles that it stands for. We all have one dream for our people and that is they have access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines.