DOH inserted ‘generics only’ provision in medicine bill – Biron

The principal author of the Cheaper Medicine Bill yesterday accused a technical working group from the Department of Health (DOH) of being responsible for the insertion of the controversial “generics only” provision strongly opposed by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA).

Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron told reporters during the Kapihan ng Bayan in Sulo hotel that upon review of their records, he found out that the provision earlier blamed on lawmakers was actually an input of the DOH.

“I would like to make it clear that the insertion was pushed by the DOH,” Biron said, adding that it was lifted from the position paper of the department.

Biron, however, lamented that the DOH made a sudden turnaround and now supports the deletion of the “generics only” provision.

The health department has said that there is no need for this provision since most Filipinos prefer generic medicine.

“It is unfair to put the blame on congressmen when the proposal came from the DOH,” Biron said.

He explained that the generics-only provision that almost triggered a nationwide hospital holiday was not part of the original bill and was only incorporated during the consolidation of the 24 bills of the House of Representatives that aim to reduce the prices of medicine.

Other insertions made were the amendment of the pharmacy law and the intellectual property law, according to Biron.

Dr. Minguita Padilla, representative of the PMA who was also present during the forum, expressed hope that the “generics only” provision would be removed from the bill so that doctors could still write the brand of the medicine in their prescription together with its generic name.   – Perseus Echeminada