[Pharm-policy] Philippine call for use of generic drugs

[James Love]

http://www.mb.com.ph/HLTH/2000-09/HL092502.asp
Manila Bulletin

Monday, 25 September 2000

Wider use of generic drugs
urged

Senate President Franklin M. Drilon recently urged
the Department of Health to redouble its efforts in
pushing for the extensive use of generic drugs and in
educating the people about its safety and efficacy.

The extensive use of generic drugs, he said, is one
effective way of bringing down the prices of medicines
short of a government subsidy or price control. 

Drilon made the call in view of the unabated high prices
of medicines, which have remained out of the reach of
millions of ordinary Filipinos. 

"I am calling on the Department of Health to fully
implement the Generic Drugs Law and to institute harsher
penalties to those who continue to prescribe branded
medicines," the Senate chief said. 

He dismissed suggestions that branded medicines are
more potent than generics. He urged doctors and
pharmacists to educate the people on the true merits of
generic drugs. He also noted that the Generic Drugs Law
has failed to meet its goal of bringing down the prices of
medicines because of the lack of cooperation from
doctors, hospitals, drug stores and pharmaceutical firms. 

"I ask the Philippine Medical Association to take the lead
in promoting generic drugs by cracking the whip on its
members to force them to follow the Generic Drugs Law,"
he said. 

As the country's premier organization of doctors, the PMA
has the moral authority and responsibility to see to it
that its members support government initiatives to lower
the prices of medicines and to promote the health and
well-being of the people, Drilon said. 

He reiterated his stand that he is against government
subsidy and price control because these measures ignore
the basic problem of high medicine prices and do not
offer a lasting solution to the problem. 

However, he said, he would consider these options if
there is no workable solution found to bring down the
high prices of medicines. 

He said he would rather allow market forces to dictate
the prices but this should be complemented with
effective and strong government measures to promote
generic drugs. 

-- 
James Love  <love@cptech.org>  http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 200036
voice 1.202.387.8030 fax 1.202.234.5176