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THE House panel dealing with Cheaper Medicine Bill over the weekend
expressed openness to remove the “generics only” provision from
the proposed measure to break the impasse that has delayed the
passage of the bill.
Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron said he would explain
to his peers that the passage of the bill is badly needed and has
long been clamored by senior citizens.
His reaction came after President Gloria Arroyo
instructed Health Sec. Francisco Duque 3rd to remove the generics
only provision in the bill so as to break the deadlock on the
matter. President Arroyo made that announcement Friday in her speech
during the launching of the 11,000th Botika ng Barangay outlet in
Taguig City.
The bicameral conference committee is still
deadlocked over the controversial “generics only” provision.
“It will be up to the house contingent to
consider seriously the pronouncement of President Arroyo. Assuming
the generics only provision s is scrapped to expedite the passage of
this bill, it will not make the bill any weaker,” said Biron.
“For as long as the price regulation stays, the Filipino consumers
are assured of a quantifiable reduction on the cost of life-saving
medicines.”
He said the Senate and House have a common goal,
which is “to pass the measure” and let Filipino consumers,
especially senior citizens, enjoy the benefits of lower drug and
medicine prices.
The position of Biron was echoed by another
member of the House contingent, Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, who
said that what matters most is giving consumers a chance to buy
cheap medicine.
“I think the parallel importation permitted by
the Cheaper Medicine Bill should be substantive enough to
considerably lower prices of medicines sans the generics only
provision,” said Aggabao.
“So as not to delay passage of the bill, the
generics only provision may be taken up as an amendment to the
generics law at the appropriate time.”
-- Sammy Martin
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