50% price cut for 23 more essential drugs - DOH
By Mayen Jaymalin Updated July 22, 2009 12:00 AM
The Philippine Star | Social Responsibility | Charity | Public Service
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ar ... goryId=130
“The pharmaceutical companies provided an ‘add-on’ of 23 pharmaceutical products the prices of which they promised to cut by 10 to 50 percent. We are checking the list and as soon as we have finished we will submit it to Malacañang for approval,” Dr. Robert So, DOH-Pharmaceutical Management Unit program manager, said in an interview.
He explained that of the 21 pharmaceutical drugs the DOH has placed under maximum drug retail price (MDRP), six will be for mandatory reduction because the pharmaceutical companies failed to comply with voluntary cut in prices.
“Of the 21 drugs, 15 were under voluntary reduction. But as I have said they also included 23 more so that’s about 38 drugs,” Dr. So disclosed.
Dr. So said that the "add-on" 23 drugs include those for anti-cancer and anti-hypertension; treatment of hyperthyroidism and for lowering cholesterol; vitamins and other over-the-counter medication.
Also yesterday, Dr.So dismissed the possibility of many local pharmaceutical companies closing and retrenching workers due to the mandatory 50 percent cut in the prices of medicine.
www.dsaph.org
Drugstore Association of the Philippines official board
Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
41 posts • Page 1 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:13 pm
- deluxeds
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- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 am
Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:57 pm
Price cuts for 99 branded medicines
July 23, 2009
PRICES FOR 99 branded medicines are expected to be cut substantially next month as part of moves to implement the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008.
26 branded products = fall under maximum drug retail price (MDRP)
42 branded products = fall under voluntary price cuts
31 branded products = fall under the "add-on" list
===
99 branded products, will have their prices cut on August 15, Robert Louie P. So, program manager of the DOH National Drug Policy unit said. He however declined to identify the specific drugs.
The effects of the MDRP policy to Unilab
As for the effects of the MDRP policy, Jose Maria A. Ochave, Unilab vice president for operations, said they currently have five products that are included in the list of 21 essential medicines whose prices will be trimmed down by at least 50 percent.
Ochave added that the company will be releasing two more products that are covered by the MRP.
He said although their products are already relatively cheaper than competition, Unilab will implement price cutbacks if current costs will still turn out to be higher than what is set in the MRP rule.
Sources:
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072309/content.php?id=001
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/c ... arget.html
July 23, 2009
PRICES FOR 99 branded medicines are expected to be cut substantially next month as part of moves to implement the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008.
26 branded products = fall under maximum drug retail price (MDRP)
42 branded products = fall under voluntary price cuts
31 branded products = fall under the "add-on" list
===
99 branded products, will have their prices cut on August 15, Robert Louie P. So, program manager of the DOH National Drug Policy unit said. He however declined to identify the specific drugs.
The effects of the MDRP policy to Unilab
As for the effects of the MDRP policy, Jose Maria A. Ochave, Unilab vice president for operations, said they currently have five products that are included in the list of 21 essential medicines whose prices will be trimmed down by at least 50 percent.
Ochave added that the company will be releasing two more products that are covered by the MRP.
He said although their products are already relatively cheaper than competition, Unilab will implement price cutbacks if current costs will still turn out to be higher than what is set in the MRP rule.
Sources:
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW072309/content.php?id=001
http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/c ... arget.html
- deluxeds
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Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Fri Jul 24, 2009 5:17 pm
72 drugs at 50% off starting Aug. 15
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net / Breaking News / Nation / First Posted 14:59:00 07/24/2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingne ... ing-Aug-15
“There will be 72 drugs that will be subjected to 50% voluntary price reduction starting August 15 given the fast voluntary compliance of drug companies to the government appeal that they reduce their product prices,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Friday (7/24/2009).
"Overall, we have 38 drug molecules and 72 products to be sold at reduced prices come August 15,2008. Five of the 38 essential drug molecules will be subject to mandatory price reduction under the Executive Order signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday.” said Duque.
Based on the resolution signed Friday by the DoH Advisory Council for Medicine Price Regulation, Duque said major firms were expected to implement the price cuts on August 15 while small and medium drug enterprises would be given until September 15 to comply with the order since they have “manual systems for inventories.”
The complete list of the 72 drugs at 50% price reduction will be published in newspapers on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Violators will be subject to penalties including a fine of P1,000 to P5,000, revocation of license to operate and cancelation of manufacturing licenses, said Nazaria Tan Tacandong, Bureau of Food and Drugs director.
A monitoring group will be installed composed of different industry and consumer groups.
Related video news:
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest ... ced-Aug-15
By Anna Valmero
INQUIRER.net / Breaking News / Nation / First Posted 14:59:00 07/24/2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingne ... ing-Aug-15
“There will be 72 drugs that will be subjected to 50% voluntary price reduction starting August 15 given the fast voluntary compliance of drug companies to the government appeal that they reduce their product prices,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Friday (7/24/2009).
"Overall, we have 38 drug molecules and 72 products to be sold at reduced prices come August 15,2008. Five of the 38 essential drug molecules will be subject to mandatory price reduction under the Executive Order signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday.” said Duque.
Based on the resolution signed Friday by the DoH Advisory Council for Medicine Price Regulation, Duque said major firms were expected to implement the price cuts on August 15 while small and medium drug enterprises would be given until September 15 to comply with the order since they have “manual systems for inventories.”
The complete list of the 72 drugs at 50% price reduction will be published in newspapers on Saturday, July 25, 2009.
Violators will be subject to penalties including a fine of P1,000 to P5,000, revocation of license to operate and cancelation of manufacturing licenses, said Nazaria Tan Tacandong, Bureau of Food and Drugs director.
A monitoring group will be installed composed of different industry and consumer groups.
Related video news:
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/latest ... ced-Aug-15
- deluxeds
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 am
Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Sat Jul 25, 2009 10:46 am
You can download the Voluntary Reduction Price List which was distributed during the press conference conducted by the DOH Advisory Council for Medicine Price Regulation on July 24, 2009 from the link below.
PDF file (products.pdf - 634KB):
http://media.inquirer.net/inquirer/media/products.pdf
PDF file (products.pdf - 634KB):
http://media.inquirer.net/inquirer/media/products.pdf
- deluxeds
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 am
Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Sun Jul 26, 2009 8:09 pm
Why maximum drug retail price must be imposed
The Sunday Times / Special Report / Sunday, July 26, 2009
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/200 ... 6top5.html
GOVERNMENT intervention is needed to address market failures and inequities in the Philippine pharmaceuticals industry.
Inefficiencies are manifested by international and domestic price variations that suggest markups on manufacturing, distribution and retailing costs that are higher than competitive prices.
Such markups may be caused by non-tariff barriers to trade, lack of information and the role of pharmaceutical companies which are dominant at all levels of the industry.
At the manufacturing level, for example, international patent holders enjoy exclusive rights to manufacture and market drugs for a set number of years, including the decision to locally produce or market a “branded” product.
Distribution and retailing markets also feature dominant players, which control over 80 percent of distribution, and another corporation, which controls almost 77 percent of the retail market, according to 2008 data at the Department of Health.
Private hospitals exercise market power when they discourage or prohibit patients from purchasing drugs from outside.
Inefficiencies are also reflected by irrational drug use, or the use of ineffective remedies, non-compliance with prescribed dosages and the persistent use of branded drugs despite the availability of equally effective and cheaper substitutes. Irrational drug use is seen in unaffordable prices as well as by lack of information. Patients, for instance, have little understanding, much less information, on disease processes and how these are treated.
As such, the physician effectively has the power to choose what drug the patient will buy, what brand and even where to buy it. Physicians, however, may tend to over-prescribe because of lack of, or biased, information.
There is growing evidence that demonstrates how corporate sponsorships and gift-giving to health professionals and medical organizations influence physician prescribing behavior and promote irrational drug use.
Intervention
Market failures and inequities provide reasons for government intervention.
In deciding whether to intervene, costs and benefits of government intervention must be weighed against the cost and benefits of “doing nothing.”
For instance, if price controls are contemplated in order to improve access to drugs, setting prices too low may result in retaliatory actions such as withdrawal of supply, or worse, deter the entry of more players, undermining the very objective to promote competition.
Setting prices too high could effectively transfer “informational rents” to drug suppliers. Informational rents are private profits generated because of the possession of relevant information.
Setting prices just right—at the level that brings down the price of branded drugs while maintaining or increasing the volume sold—could also artificially reduce the demand for unbranded generic drugs and inadvertently kill the generics industry in the longer run.
Policy depends on which market failures—supply side or demand side—are to be addressed.
International price variations maybe caused by barriers to trade, in which case, one response by government is the removal of trade barriers. This has been accomplished through the newly enacted Cheaper Medicines Law.
It is assumed that removing trade barriers will allow for equalizing the prices of drugs of the same brand, maker and dosage.
Policies should enable competition at distribution and retail levels so that price gains are not co-opted by dominant players at these levels as well as policies to facilitate the entry of new importers and ensure the quality of new supplies.
Direct price regulation—by imposing price caps or ceilings—may be employed to address monopoly markups. Or indirect price regulation may be opted through government procurement and retailing.
To be effective, the size of government procurement relative to the market shares of identified drugs is crucial. If government procurement of targeted drugs accounts for less than, say, 30 percent of their markets in terms of volume, there is little likelihood that the procurement would have significant impact.
Price control
There are important reasons for a price cap.
The National Demographic and Health Survey 2003 shows that only 30 percent of households have at least one member covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
PhilHealth benefit packages barely cover outpatient conditions and require substantial out-of-pocket payments by patients.
Annual government spending on pharmaceuticals (including imports) accounts for just P10 billion, or 10 percent of the entire pharmaceutical market, and such spending is fragmented.
Second, regular capacity, whether for ensuring the quality of generics or for monitoring and analyzing overall market conditions, is weak.
Thus the need for government price control, regulation or putting up a maximum drug retail price (MDRP).
In a two-tiered pricing system, the Department of Health finalizes a list of patented or off patent branded drugs that it intends for use in the public health system. Meanwhile, other patients are free to purchase more expensive patented or branded drugs.
Another option is to increase government procurement for selected drugs. This requires increasing the 10 percent of total market value currently observed in procurement.
Still another option is the imposition of a selective MDRP. This is warranted when local prices are too expensive compared with international price or when a patented drug so dominates the local market that little or no close substitutes are available.
An MDRP is warranted when drugs can contribute greatly to public health goals, such as reducing the incidence of leading causes of deaths and diseases like hearth diseases and infectious diseases.
A price cap is justified when it reduces the disease burden of the poor as well as mothers, children and infants.
For obvious public health reasons, drugs required for epidemics or national disasters, if they are not readily accessible or available in an equitable manner, may also be considered.
Source: Department of Health
The Sunday Times / Special Report / Sunday, July 26, 2009
http://www.manilatimes.net/national/200 ... 6top5.html
GOVERNMENT intervention is needed to address market failures and inequities in the Philippine pharmaceuticals industry.
Inefficiencies are manifested by international and domestic price variations that suggest markups on manufacturing, distribution and retailing costs that are higher than competitive prices.
Such markups may be caused by non-tariff barriers to trade, lack of information and the role of pharmaceutical companies which are dominant at all levels of the industry.
At the manufacturing level, for example, international patent holders enjoy exclusive rights to manufacture and market drugs for a set number of years, including the decision to locally produce or market a “branded” product.
Distribution and retailing markets also feature dominant players, which control over 80 percent of distribution, and another corporation, which controls almost 77 percent of the retail market, according to 2008 data at the Department of Health.
Private hospitals exercise market power when they discourage or prohibit patients from purchasing drugs from outside.
Inefficiencies are also reflected by irrational drug use, or the use of ineffective remedies, non-compliance with prescribed dosages and the persistent use of branded drugs despite the availability of equally effective and cheaper substitutes. Irrational drug use is seen in unaffordable prices as well as by lack of information. Patients, for instance, have little understanding, much less information, on disease processes and how these are treated.
As such, the physician effectively has the power to choose what drug the patient will buy, what brand and even where to buy it. Physicians, however, may tend to over-prescribe because of lack of, or biased, information.
There is growing evidence that demonstrates how corporate sponsorships and gift-giving to health professionals and medical organizations influence physician prescribing behavior and promote irrational drug use.
Intervention
Market failures and inequities provide reasons for government intervention.
In deciding whether to intervene, costs and benefits of government intervention must be weighed against the cost and benefits of “doing nothing.”
For instance, if price controls are contemplated in order to improve access to drugs, setting prices too low may result in retaliatory actions such as withdrawal of supply, or worse, deter the entry of more players, undermining the very objective to promote competition.
Setting prices too high could effectively transfer “informational rents” to drug suppliers. Informational rents are private profits generated because of the possession of relevant information.
Setting prices just right—at the level that brings down the price of branded drugs while maintaining or increasing the volume sold—could also artificially reduce the demand for unbranded generic drugs and inadvertently kill the generics industry in the longer run.
Policy depends on which market failures—supply side or demand side—are to be addressed.
International price variations maybe caused by barriers to trade, in which case, one response by government is the removal of trade barriers. This has been accomplished through the newly enacted Cheaper Medicines Law.
It is assumed that removing trade barriers will allow for equalizing the prices of drugs of the same brand, maker and dosage.
Policies should enable competition at distribution and retail levels so that price gains are not co-opted by dominant players at these levels as well as policies to facilitate the entry of new importers and ensure the quality of new supplies.
Direct price regulation—by imposing price caps or ceilings—may be employed to address monopoly markups. Or indirect price regulation may be opted through government procurement and retailing.
To be effective, the size of government procurement relative to the market shares of identified drugs is crucial. If government procurement of targeted drugs accounts for less than, say, 30 percent of their markets in terms of volume, there is little likelihood that the procurement would have significant impact.
Price control
There are important reasons for a price cap.
The National Demographic and Health Survey 2003 shows that only 30 percent of households have at least one member covered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth).
PhilHealth benefit packages barely cover outpatient conditions and require substantial out-of-pocket payments by patients.
Annual government spending on pharmaceuticals (including imports) accounts for just P10 billion, or 10 percent of the entire pharmaceutical market, and such spending is fragmented.
Second, regular capacity, whether for ensuring the quality of generics or for monitoring and analyzing overall market conditions, is weak.
Thus the need for government price control, regulation or putting up a maximum drug retail price (MDRP).
In a two-tiered pricing system, the Department of Health finalizes a list of patented or off patent branded drugs that it intends for use in the public health system. Meanwhile, other patients are free to purchase more expensive patented or branded drugs.
Another option is to increase government procurement for selected drugs. This requires increasing the 10 percent of total market value currently observed in procurement.
Still another option is the imposition of a selective MDRP. This is warranted when local prices are too expensive compared with international price or when a patented drug so dominates the local market that little or no close substitutes are available.
An MDRP is warranted when drugs can contribute greatly to public health goals, such as reducing the incidence of leading causes of deaths and diseases like hearth diseases and infectious diseases.
A price cap is justified when it reduces the disease burden of the poor as well as mothers, children and infants.
For obvious public health reasons, drugs required for epidemics or national disasters, if they are not readily accessible or available in an equitable manner, may also be considered.
Source: Department of Health
- deluxeds
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- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 am
Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Tue Jul 28, 2009 2:32 pm
Executive Order 821 signed, placing five essential drugs under MDRP
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer / Breaking News / Nation / First Posted 12:58:00 07/28/2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingne ... meds-by-50
MANILA, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed executive order 821 on Monday (July 27), placing five essential medicines under maximum retail price. The mandatory across-the-board 50 per cent price reduction on five essential medicines was imposed because drug companies have refused to voluntarily lower their prices.
Ms Arroyo issued the EO 821 as an exercise of her mandate under the so-called "cheaper medicines law" which assigned the President the power to impose the maximum retail price on selected essential medicines on the recommendation of the health secretary.
Executive Order 821 listed the maximum retail price for the...
1. anti-hypertensive amlodipine (including its S-isomer and all salt form);
2. the anti-cholesterol atorvastatin;
3. the antibiotic/antibacterial azithromycin (and all its salt form); and
4 & 5. the anti-neoplastics/anti-cancer cytarabine and doxorubicin (and all its salt form).
The price reduction will take effect on August 15.
Last week, pharmaceutical companies have acceded to reduce by 50 per cent the prices of 16 other essential medicines which the Department of Health has found to be exorbitantly priced.
Drug companies have also offered to voluntarily reduce the prices of 22 other medicines that were not included in the list recommended for price ceiling.
Related Articles:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168396/DOH- ... -price-cut
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/relate ... icines-law
By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer / Breaking News / Nation / First Posted 12:58:00 07/28/2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingne ... meds-by-50
MANILA, Philippines – President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has signed executive order 821 on Monday (July 27), placing five essential medicines under maximum retail price. The mandatory across-the-board 50 per cent price reduction on five essential medicines was imposed because drug companies have refused to voluntarily lower their prices.
Ms Arroyo issued the EO 821 as an exercise of her mandate under the so-called "cheaper medicines law" which assigned the President the power to impose the maximum retail price on selected essential medicines on the recommendation of the health secretary.
Executive Order 821 listed the maximum retail price for the...
1. anti-hypertensive amlodipine (including its S-isomer and all salt form);
2. the anti-cholesterol atorvastatin;
3. the antibiotic/antibacterial azithromycin (and all its salt form); and
4 & 5. the anti-neoplastics/anti-cancer cytarabine and doxorubicin (and all its salt form).
The price reduction will take effect on August 15.
Last week, pharmaceutical companies have acceded to reduce by 50 per cent the prices of 16 other essential medicines which the Department of Health has found to be exorbitantly priced.
Drug companies have also offered to voluntarily reduce the prices of 22 other medicines that were not included in the list recommended for price ceiling.
Related Articles:
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/168396/DOH- ... -price-cut
http://www.gmanews.tv/largevideo/relate ... icines-law
Last edited by deluxeds on Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
- deluxeds
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 am
Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:09 am
Executive Order 821 signed, placing five essential drugs under MDRP
The list of the five medicines and their corresponding MDRP :
ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE
Amlodipine 2.5 mg (P9.60); 5mg (P22.85); and 10mg (P38.50).
ANTI-CHOLESTEROL
Atorvastatin 10mg film-coated tablet (P34.45); 20mg film-coated (P39.13); 40mg film-coated (P50.50); 80mg film-coated (P50.63);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 10mg tablet (P45.75);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 20mg tablet (P66.25);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 40mg tablet (P84.42);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 80mg tablet (P89.99);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 10mg tablet (P51.13);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 20mg tablet (P73.25);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 40mg tablet (P91.79);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 80mg tablet (P91.79);
ANTIBIOTIC/ANTIBACTERIAL
Azithromycin and all its salt form:
250mg tablet (P108.50); 500mg tablet, (P151.43);
200mg/5ml powder for suspension 15ml, (P427.50); 200mg/5ml powder for suspension 22.5ml, (P638);
500mg vial for injection, (P992.50); and 2-gram granules, (P468).
ANTI-NEOPLASTICS/ ANTI-CANCER
Cytarabine:
100mg/ml ampul/vial IV/SC, (P240);
100mg/ml ampul/vial IV/SC 5ml or 500mg vial, (P900);
100mg/ml ampul/vial IV/SC 10ml or 1-gram vial, (P1,800); and\
20mg/ml 5ml ampul/vial for injection, (P1,980).
Doxorubicin and all its salt form:
10mg powder vial for injection, (P1,465.75); and
50mg powder vial for injection, (P2,265.74).
Source: http://www.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_ ... 4&Itemid=2
The list of the five medicines and their corresponding MDRP :
ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE
Amlodipine 2.5 mg (P9.60); 5mg (P22.85); and 10mg (P38.50).
ANTI-CHOLESTEROL
Atorvastatin 10mg film-coated tablet (P34.45); 20mg film-coated (P39.13); 40mg film-coated (P50.50); 80mg film-coated (P50.63);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 10mg tablet (P45.75);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 20mg tablet (P66.25);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 40mg tablet (P84.42);
Amlodipine besilate 5mg + Atorvastatin calcium 80mg tablet (P89.99);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 10mg tablet (P51.13);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 20mg tablet (P73.25);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 40mg tablet (P91.79);
Amlodipine besilate 10mg + Atorvastatin calcium 80mg tablet (P91.79);
ANTIBIOTIC/ANTIBACTERIAL
Azithromycin and all its salt form:
250mg tablet (P108.50); 500mg tablet, (P151.43);
200mg/5ml powder for suspension 15ml, (P427.50); 200mg/5ml powder for suspension 22.5ml, (P638);
500mg vial for injection, (P992.50); and 2-gram granules, (P468).
ANTI-NEOPLASTICS/ ANTI-CANCER
Cytarabine:
100mg/ml ampul/vial IV/SC, (P240);
100mg/ml ampul/vial IV/SC 5ml or 500mg vial, (P900);
100mg/ml ampul/vial IV/SC 10ml or 1-gram vial, (P1,800); and\
20mg/ml 5ml ampul/vial for injection, (P1,980).
Doxorubicin and all its salt form:
10mg powder vial for injection, (P1,465.75); and
50mg powder vial for injection, (P2,265.74).
Source: http://www.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_ ... 4&Itemid=2
- deluxeds
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Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:39 am
Press Statement of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) re MDRP/EO 821
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerhe ... ital-drugs
The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), composed of drug companies, said it would abide by EO 821.
“However, PHAP regrets that price control for certain (drug) molecules has been imposed since it believes that the same result could be achieved through free-market competition,” the group said in a statement.
“Free market competition will also increase the competitiveness of the Philippines as an investment priority area for companies in various industries,” PHAP said, adding that market competition would also ensure that new medicine would be introduced in the country “since the Philippines has been one of the countries in Asia where new drugs are launched after regulatory approval in the United States and in Europe.”
It said that “price control may deliver some short-term benefits but the long-term negative consequences not only on the pharmaceutical industry but on other industries must be considered. If price adjustments do not result in market expansion, then affected companies will have to study options to remain viable.”
The group insisted that the MRP “is not the best approach since even at drastically reduced prices, most of these medicines will remain inaccessible to the poor who live on an income of less than P100 a day.”
It suggested that a longer-term solution be implemented that considers adequate healthcare financing through PhilHealth, infrastructure building and training of healthcare providers in rural areas.
The pharmaceutical industry is estimated to lose about P7 billion to P10 billion ($146 million to $208 million) a year in sales, making it hard for smaller drug firms that produce and market three or four products to survive, the PHAP spokesperson earlier said.
Related Article:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ar ... goryId=130
Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerhe ... ital-drugs
The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), composed of drug companies, said it would abide by EO 821.
“However, PHAP regrets that price control for certain (drug) molecules has been imposed since it believes that the same result could be achieved through free-market competition,” the group said in a statement.
“Free market competition will also increase the competitiveness of the Philippines as an investment priority area for companies in various industries,” PHAP said, adding that market competition would also ensure that new medicine would be introduced in the country “since the Philippines has been one of the countries in Asia where new drugs are launched after regulatory approval in the United States and in Europe.”
It said that “price control may deliver some short-term benefits but the long-term negative consequences not only on the pharmaceutical industry but on other industries must be considered. If price adjustments do not result in market expansion, then affected companies will have to study options to remain viable.”
The group insisted that the MRP “is not the best approach since even at drastically reduced prices, most of these medicines will remain inaccessible to the poor who live on an income of less than P100 a day.”
It suggested that a longer-term solution be implemented that considers adequate healthcare financing through PhilHealth, infrastructure building and training of healthcare providers in rural areas.
The pharmaceutical industry is estimated to lose about P7 billion to P10 billion ($146 million to $208 million) a year in sales, making it hard for smaller drug firms that produce and market three or four products to survive, the PHAP spokesperson earlier said.
Related Article:
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ar ... goryId=130
- deluxeds
- Posts: 261
- Joined: Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:08 am
Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:09 pm
Cebu drugstores seek rebates from suppliers
By Jhunnex Napallacan
Inquirer Visayas / Breaking News / Region / First Posted 13:14:00 07/29/2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingne ... _suppliers
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The drugstores in Cebu are willing to comply with the 50-percent reduction in the prices of essential medicines but are seeking a rebate from the drug suppliers, according to Robinson Uy, president of the Cebu Pharmacists Association (CPA).
Uy explained in a Tuesday interview that drugstores have not sold out their inventory of the essential medicines included in the Executive Order No 821 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on July 27.
He added that the CPA members, who own drugstores, were still awaiting the results of the negotiations between the Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DAP) and the multinational drug companies.
Uy said the DAP has been asking the drug companies to grant a rebate on the medicines covered by the EO 821 but the multinational companies have yet to give their commitment.
By Jhunnex Napallacan
Inquirer Visayas / Breaking News / Region / First Posted 13:14:00 07/29/2009
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingne ... _suppliers
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The drugstores in Cebu are willing to comply with the 50-percent reduction in the prices of essential medicines but are seeking a rebate from the drug suppliers, according to Robinson Uy, president of the Cebu Pharmacists Association (CPA).
Uy explained in a Tuesday interview that drugstores have not sold out their inventory of the essential medicines included in the Executive Order No 821 signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on July 27.
He added that the CPA members, who own drugstores, were still awaiting the results of the negotiations between the Drugstores Association of the Philippines (DAP) and the multinational drug companies.
Uy said the DAP has been asking the drug companies to grant a rebate on the medicines covered by the EO 821 but the multinational companies have yet to give their commitment.
- deluxeds
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Re: Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) updates
by deluxeds on Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:00 am
Price control is last resort
By Boo Chanco Updated July 31, 2009 12:00 AM
The Philippine Star / News / Business / DEMAND AND SUPPLY
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ar ... egoryId=66
By Boo Chanco Updated July 31, 2009 12:00 AM
The Philippine Star / News / Business / DEMAND AND SUPPLY
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?ar ... egoryId=66
As for Big Pharma… how can they now say they want market forces to bring down prices when they have subverted these same market forces for so long? They have attacked Mar Roxas and later on, Obet Pagdanganan when they tried to use parallel importation as a means to use market forces to moderate prices. They even sued poor Obet in court for his efforts. In this country, Big Pharma has been wielding the pricing power of a cartel and they are desperately fighting to keep it.
As I said in a previous column, Big Pharma had it coming to them. Their actions have led to a crisis situation that made it necessary for government to use the ultimate weapon of price control… reluctantly, I might add.
If there are any heroes in this fight, it has to be Mar and Obet who started it, fought for it and brought it to this current stage. Mar and Obet had no other interest other than to make sure the poor had access to cheaper prescription drugs. They do not have any economic interest in drug companies ready to produce generic versions like some of Ate Glue’s congressional allies are reported to have. It pains me to hear our President and her allies twist things around as if the truth has no value in our august public forums like the SONA.
- deluxeds
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