Saturday, January 13, 2007 Province keeps Capiceños healthy thru insurance, affordable meds
ROZXAS CITY -- The government life saving schemes such as health insurance through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) cards and half-priced medicines that are working for the poor are among the top 10 programs of the administration.
In a round table discussion on poverty alleviation, presided by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the latest surveys show that 45 percent of Filipinos agree that prices of medicines have considerably gone down after the government implemented the Botika ng Barangay program.
The Botika sa Barangay offers medicines at half cost, forcing the pharmaceutical industry to sell low-cost brands and saving consumers an estimated P1.4 billion.
Duque said the low-cost medicines are 35 to 40 percent cheaper and available in nearly 10,000 outlets nationwide.
Meanwhile, more Capiceños have benefited from cheaper but branded medicines through the province's Parallel Drug Importation (PDI) program.
Provincial Health Officer Jarvis Punsalan disclosed that pharmacies of government hospitals in the province had been selling low-cost but quality medicines.
He said in 2001 the province has allocated P1 million as seed capital for the purchase of four brands of medicines, and has now reached about P3 million selling already 40 types of medicines for different diseases.
Punsalan said through the PDI program, which was initiated by then trade secretary now Senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas III, the province saved 30 to 40 percent in its medicines procurement.
He explained that aside from the significant saving of the province through the pooled procurement system, the PDI project has also helped Capiceños to save approximately P47 million. (PIA/Jemin B. Guillermo)
