DTI, MMDA reach pact on cheap imported drugs

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have reached an agreement in which the MMDA mayors will subscribe to the Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya program of the DTI.

This was revealed yesterday by Trade and Industry Secretary Manuel Roxas II who said that the agreement represents a major breakthrough for the program as this would provide access for the local government units to cheap imported drugs.

With the agreement, the DTI expects orders from the MMDA mayors to reach between P20 million to P25 million.

To date, orders from local government units have already reached P35 million.

The Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya program of the DTI is aimed at giving Filipino consumers access to imported medicines at more affordable prices.

Several provinces and cities which had earlier issued purchase order include Abra, Benguet, Catanduanes, Cavite, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Capiz, South Cotabato, Surigao, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte and the cities/municipalities of Bais (Negros Oriental), Maasin (Southern Leyte), Malaybalay (Bukidnon), San Jose (Nueva Ecija) and Silay, Oton (Iloilo).

The Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya was prompted by a government study which showed that prices of branded medicines in the Philippines are the highest in Asia, with the exception of Japan.

For example, under the DTI program, the price of a 20 mg tablet of Adalat Retard, which is a medicine for hypertension or high blood, is only P5.75 but is sold at P26.60 by local drug stores.