BFAD 7 wants Congress to prioritize medicine bill

The Central Visayas office of the Bureau of Food and Drugs wants Congress to prioritize the passage of the Cheap Medicine Bill, saying that this will answer the need of the poor in accessing affordable drugs.

During the recent Kapihan sa PIA, BFAD-7 director Monina Coyoca said although the government has made some essential drugs available at lower prices under the “Gamot na Mabisa, Abot Kaya” (GMA 50 Program), the Cheap Medicine Bill will have a greater impact on the poor if enacted into law.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has asked Congress to prioritize the Cheap Medicine Bill, which is authored by Sen. Mar Roxas, to ensure that the poor will have access to affordable, high quality, safe and effective medicine.

A survey commissioned by Sen. Lito Lapid showed that the Philippines is next to Japan among countries in Asia with highly priced medicine.

The prices of medicine in the country are five to 45 times higher than those in Pakistan and India. Only 50 to 79 percent of the estimated 88 million Filipinos have sustainable access to affordable drugs.

The GMA 50 Program fulfills the commitment made by President Arroyo in July 2001 to lower the prices of drugs by 50 percent.

Two of these drugs include atenolol for hypertension - which is priced at P9.05 in 30 Department of Health hospitals but costs P17.75 in private drug outlets - and cotrimoxazole for bronchitis/pneumonia and urinary tract infection, which is commercially priced at P13.50 but only costs P2.80 in DOH hospitals.

Meanwhile, Coyoca revealed that there are over 20 locally manufactured drugs made from medicinal plants that are now commercially available. These local drugs include lagundi, ampalaya, ahos, luy-a and sambong.

Lagundi and sambong are sold at the National Food Authority rolling stores in Metro Manila, as stated in the DOH website. — Gregg M. Rubio/LPM