PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte yesterday signed an executive order that will regulate the prices of drugs and other medicines sold in the Philippine.
According to Acting Presidential spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles, President Duterte approved Executive Order No. 155, which seeks to respond effectively to primary causes of deaths in the country due to sickness and other ailments.
Nograles said the signing of the EO is part of the government’s efforts to provide the public with quick access to affordable yet quality and reliable medicines in the market.
Included in the list of medicines that will under price regulation are 34 drug molecules and 71 drug formulas used in medicines to treat conditions such as bone metabolism, analgesics, anesthetics, anti-angina, antiarrhythmics, anti-asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) medicines, antibiotics, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, antidiabetic drugs, antidiuretics, and antiemetics.
Also included are medicines for anti-glaucoma, anti-hypercholesterolemia, antihypertensive, anti-neoplastic/anti-cancer medicines, anti-Parkinsons drugs, drugs for overactive bladders, growth hormone inhibitors, immunosuppressant drugs, iron chelating agents, at psoriasis, seborrhea and ichthyosis medicines.
Those found to violate the order face penalties and fines from P50,000 up to P5 million and shall be dealt with according to the provisions of RA No. 9502 or the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008.