DOH: 5 drugs in gov't price caps; 16 voluntary

MANILA - Only five essential drugs will be placed under the government-imposed price control while 16 others will be through voluntary price caps, a Department of Health (DOH) official said Wednesday. Roberto So, program manager of the DOH's pharmaceutical unit, told ABS-CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda (UKG) that the draft executive order (EO) on the maximum drug retail price (MDRP), which mandates discounts on selected essential medicines, will be submitted to Health Secretary Health Francisco Duque for final revisions, and then to the Office of the President for approval. So explained that the five medicines recommended for price control were the ones with prices that pharmaceutical companies refused to cut by half. He said drug companies have already agreed to cut by half the prices of 16 medicines used to treat diabetes, hypertension, cancer, infections, and high cholesterol levels. He added that aside from 21 essential drugs that will be covered by a price cut of around 50% either through government-imposed or voluntary price control, 22 other medicines will be included in the MDRP. However, said the prices of these drugs will be slashed by only 10% to 15%. So said that once the Office of the President approves the draft executive order, the DOH will start disclosing to the public the medicines included in the MDRP. He said the health department will inform the public through media advertisements. Drug stores and non-government organizations have also agreed to help disseminate the information. The health official, meanwhile, said that drug companies, particularly members of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) have assured that they will honor their commitment to reduce by 50% the prices of 16 medicines. If PHAP members or non-members implement unauthorized price increases, they can be charged by the government for violating Republic Act 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, and Republic Act 7581 or The Price Act. The two laws impose penalties from closure to up to 15 years of imprisonment, plus up to P1-million in fines. Malacañang has said that Mrs. Arroyo will sign the executive order on the MDRP in August.