By Satur C. Ocampo At Ground Level | The Philippine Star Four years ago last June 6, the Cheaper Medicines Law (Republic Act 9502, the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008) passed after contentious debates in the 14th Congress, was signed into law by President Gloria M. Arroyo. R.A. 9502 was intended…
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News in Pictures: Groups denounce failure of Cheaper Medicines Law
PHOTO BY TERENCE KRISHNA LOPEZ
Consumers group finds Cheaper Medicines Law no better than a placebo
By MARYA SALAMAT
A 2008 study of the Consumers Action for Empowerment and the Health Action Information Network concluded that a single course of antibiotics amounts to three days’ worth of wages; not much has improved since then.
Despite Arroyo Order Cutting Some Prices, Drugs, Medicines Will Remain Expensive
Even if seriously implemented, the Cheaper Medicines Law would still fail to bring down the prices of medicines because it did not break “the monopoly control of transnational corporations on all aspects” of the drug industry. This monopoly is the main reason why drug prices in the Philippines are among the highest in Asia.
Benjie Oliveros | The Mighty Pharmaceutical Industry
By BENJIE OLIVEROS Analysis Bulatlat.com MANILA — Sen. Mar Roxas is raising hell about the alleged collusion between the Arroyo government and the pharmaceutical industry to delay if not derail the implementation of Republic Act 9502, or the “Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008,” which was signed on June 6, 2008. Among…
Poor and Sick Filipinos Pay Dearly for Failure of Cheaper-Medicines Law
A law passed last year to bring down the prices of drugs and medicines has not delivered on its promise, according to consumer and health advocates. It failed to break the stranglehold of huge transnational drug companies on the Philippine market. It also squandered an opportunity to develop the local pharmaceutical industry.