Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Duterte signs drug pricing EO

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order (EO), regulating the prices of drugs and medicines for common causes of death in the Philippines.

“To improve access to affordable and quality medicines and reduce health-related out-of pocket expenses of Filipinos, there is a need to further impose Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) on other drugs and medicines commonly used for the leading causes of morbidity in the country,” Duterte said in issuing EO 155.

The EO requires all manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, traders, and retailers to “display the retail price which shall not exceed the maximum retail price (MRP).”

The price regulation through MRP and/or Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) 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 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.

Section 3 states that the list of medicines and their corresponding MRPs and MWPs should be subject to the review of the Department of Health (DOH), in consultation with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) six months from the effectivity of the EO, and every six months thereafter.

The DOH, DTI and the Philippine Competition Commission were also tasked to study and propose measures that will influence the supply, demand and expenditure on drugs and medicines.

Violations of the EO shall be dealt with in accordance with Republic Act No. 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 and other related laws.