In his privilege speech at the Sangguniang Panlungsod last August 11, 2009, Naga City Councilor Nathan Sergio exhorted his fellow City Councilors to come up with a "Task Force Cheaper Medicine" to monitor compliance with the implementation of Executive Order 821 putting up maximum drug retail price (MDRP) on certain medicines.
Presidential Executive Order 821 was issued pursuant to Republic Act 9502 known as the "Universally Accessible Cheaper Quality Medicines Act of 2008". It covers five molecules or active ingredients whose prices were not reduced by the pharmaceutical companies. Prior to the issuance of the EO, the pharmaceutical companies volunteered to reduce only sixteen molecules or active ingredients.
Much earlier, the Department of Health, and the Department of Trade and Industry jointly recommended to the Office of the President 21 molecules which need price reduction by as much as fifty percent. These molecules were those that address "major health concerns" like hypertension, diabetes, influenza, hypercholesterolemia, cancer, arthritis, goiter, allergies and infections.
The sooner the law is observed, according to Councilor Sergio, the beneficial it is for the senior citizens, the persons with disability and the urban poor sector. It is a common knowledge that the prevalence of high-priced medicines has been the bane of poor and marginalized families in our country.
Bringing down the prices of certain medicines thereby making them affordable to most people is one thing, but ensuring that the same is realized down to the retail level is another. Thus, the need for a task force, Councilor Sergio explained.
By August 15, price reduction on the five molecules stated in the Executive Order has to be observed by all the public and private retail outlets, such as drugstores, hospitals and hospital pharmacies, health maintenance organizations, convenience stores and supermarkets, and the like. On the other hand, the voluntary price reduction on the 16 molecules will start on August 15 for those "fully automated" pharma companies, while September 15 is the deadline for those "small and medium-sized drug outlets with manual systems".
The EO mandates that no public or private entity or person shall be allowed to sell, reimburse, or demand from the public or patients payment or compensation higher than the MDRP. Any violation shall be imposed a certain penalty as specified by law.
Councilor Sergio, it must be noted, has authored health-related ordinances that have great impact on the lives of ordinary folks. One of which is the Sandugo Ordinance that established Voluntary Blood Donation Program in the City of Naga ensuring adequate supply of safe blood anytime for anyone in dire need.