ABB-MKK congressional candidate former Bacolod Rep. and Mayor Monico Puentevella said he was co-author of Republic Act No. 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 that promotes and ensures the people's access to affordable quality drugs and medicines.
It is expensive to get sick with the high cost of prescription medications. But this law gave relief to our people because they have access to quality but affordable medicines.
He said this law has complemented his long time and effective health program - the Monico Kabuhi Ko and currently the MKK (Magbinuligay Kita sa Kauswagan), which is also the name of his local political party.
MKK or Monico Kabuhi Ko is already a byword to the people especially those who already availed of the free health services, involving mild to serious illnesses.
A lot of people who underwent surgeries, dialysis, among others availed of the health program of Puentevella.
People in the Barangay knew about this health program and he vowed to continue to strengthen this especially when he again gets the mandate of the people of Bacolod.
Puentevella extended his effort to make quality medicines readily available for marginalized Filipinos by co-authoring Republic Act No. 9502.
RA No. 9502 includes the following drugs and medicines for price regulation.
All drugs and medicines indicated for treatment of chronic illnesses and life threatening conditions, such as, but not limited to, endocrine disorders, e.g., diabetes mellitus; gastrointestinal disorders, e.g., peptic ulcer; urologic disorders, e.g., benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); cardiovascular diseases, e.g., hypertension; pulmonary diseases, e.g., pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), asthma; auto-immune diseases, e.g., systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); skin diseases, e.g., psoriasis; neuro-psychiatric disorders; other infectious diseases, e.g., human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS); and other conditions such as organ transplants and neoplasm.
Drugs and medicines indicated for prevention of diseases, e.g., vaccines, immunoglobulin, anti-sera.
Drugs and medicines indicated for prevention of pregnancy, e.g., oral contraceptives, Anesthetic agents; Intravenous fluids
Drugs and medicines that are included in the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF) Essential Drug List; and all other drugs and medicines which, from time to time, the Secretary of the Department of Health determines to be in need of price regulation.
The Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1658 and House Bill No. 2844. It was approved and made into law on June 6, 2008 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. (CNC)