THE Department of Health (DOH) reminded all drugstores and hospital pharmacies to comply with the government's order to slash prices of medicines.
Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral ordered the strict compliance with the Government-Mediated Access Price (GMAP) program of the government to help ease the burden of the poor in accessing medicines.
The DOH, through its regional Centers for Health Development and in coordination with various agencies, implemented the first round of GMAP and the Maximum Drug Retail Price (MDRP) in August 2009.
Last March, another set of 98 products were offered for price cuts under the GMAP initiative by 11 manufacturing firms.
Cabral said the health department will not think twice to penalize any drugstore caught not complying with the price cuts.
“The DOH will not hesitate to penalize any drugstore or pharmacy should they continue to defy the implementation of the GMAP and MDRP program of government,” warned the health chief.
Penalties imposed on violators are based on Republic Act No. 9502 or the Cheaper Medicines Law.
As of April 6, DOH found 123 drug retail outlets and hospital pharmacies -- 78 in Metro Manila and 45 in other regions -- to have violated the MDRP and GMAP since their implementation.
As a consequence, these outlets have already been issued Cease and Desist Orders and administrative fines ranging from P1,000 to P50,000 per drug violation for the GMAP and MDRP have been imposed.
Repeated violations of the GMAP and MDRP can incur penalties of as much as P50,000 to P5,000,000 with accompanying suspension or revocation of their licenses to operate, depending on the gravity and extent of the violation.
Secretary Cabral reiterated that drug retail outlets and hospital pharmacies have no excuse not to reduce their prices since manufacturers that have joined the DOH by offering their medicines for GMAP are already selling the listed medicines to the drugstores and hospitals at reduced prices. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)