Compromise on cheap drugs bill eyed

BY DENNIS GADIL

THE Senate panel in the bicameral conference committee on the cheaper medicines bill is looking at taking out the "generics only" provision to facilitate the bill’s passage.

Sen. Pia Cayetano, health committee chair, said insisting on retaining the "generics only" provision may lead to further delay in bringing about the law.

She said her committee has been conducting separate hearings on the bill’s generics-only provision.

The House contingent is proposing a compromise by introducing a "sunrise" provision, where the generics-only provision would come in effect only after three years.

Under the Senate formula, the old provision which mandates doctors to prescribe both the generics and brand names would be retained.

Sen. Manuel Roxas II, the bill’s main proponent, said almost 90 percent of the conflicting provisions of the bill have already been resolved in the bicameral conference panel.

Roxas said the panel agreed to put in place a price regulation body only in areas where there is a big disparity in the prices between locally produced drugs compared and foreign brands. He said the health secretary will head the price regulation body.

Roxas said passing the "generics only" provision will stop drug stores from pushing branded drugs in connivance with giant drug companies.

Cayetano agreed that small local drug manufacturers will easily lose out to giant pharmaceutical firms in terms of lobbying before drug stores.

The two senators said the bicameral panel may come out with a final report next week.