Lawmaker to drugstores: Prove claim vs PWD discounts

MANILA, Philippines - Big drugstores should open their books to diffuse a showdown between drug firms and organizations of persons with disabilities (PWD), Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello said yesterday.

“Where is the proof that drugstores will go bankrupt if they provided PWDs with a 20-percent discount, as mandated by law?” Bello asked.

He filed House Resolution 221 Wednesday, directing Congress to investigate the compliance of health care establishments, pharmacies, and other establishments dispensing medicine with the Magna Carta for Disabled Persons, which stipulates that PWDs be given a 20-percent discount when purchasing medicines and availing themselves of services.

The House committee on social services conducted a hearing on the issue earlier this week.

“The big drugstores are hiding behind the small drugstores and pharmacies that say they will go bankrupt if they grant discounts to PWDs,” he said.

In a previous hearing, the Drug Stores Association of the Philippines said complying with the 20-percent discount means they would lose money, a position that drug retail giants defended.

Bello also pointed out that “the law also states that they are entitled to tax deductions on goods sold at discounted rates. In short, they redeem the discounts in tax deduction. So how can they say they’re going bankrupt?”

He said the drug firms and retailers should not further burden PWDs, most of whom are experiencing financial difficulties.

“Should they (drugstores) fail to provide justification for their non-compliance, we will definitely see to it that they are penalized,” he said.