'Cheaper Medicine Law up in 2 years'

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) is confident that Republic Act 9502 or the Act Providing for Cheaper and Quality Medicine will be fully implemented in two years.        

DOH Undersecretary Mario Villaverde said the agency has been laying down the framework for the implementation of all the provisions of the law since it was passed last year.

“We are hopeful that in the next two years, it can be fully implemented. But, of course, we can only feel the full effects in five years,” Villaverde said in a recent interview.

According to Dr. Robert So, program manager of the DOH Pharmaceutical Management Unit, this goal can be achieved through various provisions of the law, including the parallel importation of patented medicine from countries where they are sold at cheaper prices.

He added the law also provides for the imposition of maximum retail price, granting of compulsory license to exploit patented innovations in case of public health emergency, and the strengthening of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) which is in charge of regulating and monitoring food and drug products.

The law also has the so-called bolar provision which allows pharmaceutical companies to apply for a license to manufacture a product even before its patent expires. Because of this, copied versions could be made available in the market the day after the patent expiry date.

Under the old policy, a drug firm was allowed to apply for such license only after the patent was lifted, giving the patent holder at least two more years to solely sell the product.

Villaverde, however, noted that changing the behavior of patients and doctors is the most difficult aspect of the law.

“I think the easiest thing to do is the physical aspect of it – to make cheaper medicine available through the Botika ng Bayan and the like. But the question is, will doctors change their behavior and prescribe cheaper medicine like generics or other branded medicine that are cheap?” he said.

Villaverde said the public should also be taught to patronize these products for the law to succeed. – Sheila Crisostomo