Tuesday, November 11, 2008 Generic drugs to cost lower
THOUGH generic drugs will now become cheaper in the market, the Department of Health (DOH) 7 assured the public that they would still be of good quality.
If consumers worry over the quality of drugs, they can check if the drugs passed Bureau of Food and Drugs standards, Department of Health 7 Director Dr. Susana Madarieta said.
Madarieta said that original prices of generic drugs would decrease by 30 to 50 percent.
However, despite the decrease in the prices of generic drugs, discounts for senior citizens and people with disabilities will not be affected.
“For drugs and medicines with MRPs (maximum retail prices), senior citizen’s discounts and discounts for people with disabilities shall continue to be honored,” read the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9502 or the Universally Accessibly Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008.
“However, we advise the senior citizens to go to big pharmacy chains instead of going to the small chains. If they go to big chains, they can easily get their discounts but if they go to the small chains, usually these small chains cannot afford the discounts,” Madarieta said.
Recommendation
Under the IRR, the MRP will be imposed by the President of the Philippines, upon the recommendation of the secretary of health.
“The MRP shall be construed as the imposition of maximum prices at all levels of the supply chains, including but not limited to manufacturer’s price, trader’s price, distributor’s price and wholesaler’s price and retailer’s price,” the IRR reads.
The IRR mandates that MRPs will be published and should be posted in conspicuous areas by drug outlets.
Retailers are prohibited from selling drugs and medicines at a retail price exceeding the MRP. (EPB)
