PRESIDENT DUTERTE has signed an executive order (EO) that would regulate the prices of drugs and medicines used to address the leading causes of morbidity in the country.
“This is part of efforts to improve access to affordable, quality medicines and reduce the health-related expenses of our countrymen, consistent with the goals of the Universal Health Care Act,” said Duterte’s spokesman Karlo Nograles
Nograles said the price regulation will be imposed on 34 drug molecules and 71 drug formulas used in agents affecting bone metabolism, analgesics, anesthetics, anti-angina, antiarrhythmics, anti-asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medicines, antibiotics, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, antidiabetic drugs, antidiuretics, and antiemetics.
Also covered by the EO are drug molecules and formulas utilized in anti-glaucoma, anti-hypercholesterolemia medicines, antihypertensive medicines, anti-neoplastic/anti-cancer medicines, antiparkinsons drugs, drugs for overactive bladders, growth hormone inhibitors, immunosuppressant drugs, iron chelating agents, and psoriasis, seborrhea and ichthyosis medicines.
Nograles said Section 2 of the EO also requires all manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, traders, and retailers to display the retail price which shall not exceed the maximum retail price.
The list of medicines and their corresponding retail and wholesale prices shall be subject to the review of the Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry six months from the effectivity of the EO, and every six months thereafter. (With a report from Malou Cablinda)
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