In his keynote speech, Professor Michael Tan, coordinator of the Medical Anthropology Section of the College of Medicine at the University of the Philippines (UP) said that parallel importation would only aggravate the problem.
Tan said that Norvasc, a medicine for hypertension manufactured by Pfizer costs P76 ($1.57) per 10mg here in the Philippines. In India, a 10 mg Norvasc is only half that price. “Hindi tinatanong ng gobyerno ang Pfizer kung bakit sa India mas mura ang production. Ang gagawin is to import medicines from India, mahal pa rin ang benta rito.” (Instead of the government asking Pfizer why the cost of production of Norvasc in India is cheaper, it would just import medicines from India, which would then sell at a higher price here.)
Tan, who takes Propranolol for his hypertension, said that his medicine costs P14 ($0.289) here in the Philippines. In Thailand, it is only P5 ($0.10) and in Vietnam, he was able to buy a generic version from Canada for only P0.80 ($0.016) each.
Tan attributed the lower prices of medicines in other countries to competition and direct government intervention. India has a National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA). Since 1970, India’s Patent Act has allowed Indian manufacturers to legally produce generic versions of medicines patented in other countries.
Prof. Michael Tan draws lessons from the experiences of past consumer groups. (Photo by R. Olea)
Here in the Philippines, Tan said there is no price control on medicines and no regulation in the advertising of medicines.
“Kulang sa atin competition at galing dapat sa loob ng bansa…Kung dumami ang generic manufacturers dito with good quality medicines, bababa ang presyo,”(What we lack is local competition. If there would be more generic manufacturers, which are producing quality medicines, the price of medicines would go down.) Tan said.
Lessons from the past
Tan said that today, consumers have nowhere to turn to but the government. The website of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is flooded with complaints.“Hanggang posting na lang, 200 na ang complaints.” (There are already 200 complaints posted but nothing has happened.)
“We are left to the mercy of unscrupulous businesses.” “Vulnerable ang consumers dito sa Pilipinas,” (Consumers in the Philippines are vulnerable.) he said.
He said that the new consumers’ group must pick up lessons from the past.
He related that the Kilusan ng Mamimili sa Pilipinas Inc. (KMPI or Movement of Consumers in the Philippines) was formed in the 1970s. The first issue of its magazine Ang Mamimili evaluated different brands of toilet paper.
Meanwhile, the Citizens’ Alliance for Consumer Protection (CACP) campaigned against expensive medicines and promoted breastfeeding.
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