Will there be affordable medicines for the poor?

There had been news trailers wherein Senator Manuel Roxas – presidential hopeful in 2010 and a future groom of Korina Sanchez – was quoted as carping against GMA, no less, for objecting to reduced prices of medicines.

Used to his unfulfilled promise as then Trade Secretary, his flagging word sounded like the boy who cried wolf. With his recent perorations, one flicks off Roxas’ recycled concern over pricey drugs as just hot air to get off the system. Secretary Pagdanganan of PITC who, like Roxas, used to be gung ho on affordable branded drugs from India and Israel, has also lately been unheard of.

But wait, the President’s body language and reluctance to stir, could be the main damper. Just played up was the dour news: “GMA snubs hearing on cheaper medicine”. Obviously, the bicameral inquiry on the pending executive order on maximum retail price of 22 medicines started without GMA, or her representative.

It’s worrisome that GMA’s absence from the Senate committee appeared to be not accurate, as “no sufficient time… to prepare for the hearing”. Actual receipt was July 9, or enough for the July 13 hearing. If the President couldn’t make it, she could have named “her representative”.

Intentional snub seemed likely, since DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III and Trade Secretary Peter Favila who both earlier confirmed, also snubbed the hearing as words came not to attend “until they receive clearance to attend”, obviously from Malacañan. Both were on their way to the Senate, but didn’t proceed after receiving Exec. Secretary Eduardo Ermita’s letter. Was it just mere coincidence that the agent of Pfizer Philippines also failed to attend the bicameral hearing?

The Senate chair alleged that GMA met on July 8 the pharma companies’ reps, and collusion took place to circumvent the cheaper and affordable medicines law. The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines denies any collusion. If accurately cited, that’s a bombshell hardly inspiring belief.

The law on so-called affordable and quality medicine mainly on generic medicines has not been as effective and far-reaching in the grassroots. Not available in commercial drug stores, but only in “botika ng bayan” covering only about 10% of existing barangays, these are “across-the counter” drugs for non-serious ailments.

When it comes to death-threatening ailments often handled by specialists, it’s the better-known and effective branded medicines that are prescribed by them. Even the tiny tablets of branded drugs are priced at double and triple digits in pesos. Capsules and injectible medicines as maintenance treatment are in the four digits per shot, and some reach P15T per shot, say, to raise low hematocrit and hemoglobin in HBP cases.

Many of the sick are poor, and many are rat poor. Most are debilitated senior citizens. Those with very meager monthly pensions, say, GSIS, SSS, or veterans benefits can’t buy their maintenance drugs because the branded ones that have curative effectiveness are way beyond their reach. Hence, if it be true that there is collusion between the national leadership and the pharma companies, there is but one message left: “Leave them to Heaven”.

The promised compulsory 50% maximum retail price reduction of a number of drugs against serious ailments is yet to take effect in mid-August. It’s also speculative if, indeed, all such branded drugs become cheaper, that is, much lower than 4 and 5 digits at present sky-high prices.

Notwithstanding any executive order or the PHAP letter of understanding (LOU) on imported branded medicines of lowered prices at 50%, it’s still a $64 question if the sickly poor could afford them. Perhaps, it needs the radically-dreaded dirigisme – the state’s economic control – and regular state subsidy for all medicines within the reach of the sick.

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