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Why are drugs cheaper in other developing countries?: Sen. Win Gatchalian asks resource persons from the Department of Health why medicines are cheaper in developing countries like India and Vietnam during the virtual hearing of the Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Tuesday, February 16, 2021. In response, Dr. Melissa Guerrero, chief of the Pharmaceutical Division, said India has invested in building its generic industry decades ago and is now known as the "pharmacy to the world." Gatchalian also expressed his support for Senate Bill Nos. 309 and 1760 which seek to establish the Drug Price Regulatory Board. “It seems to me that this type of law is needed to send the signal that government is ready to use the law in order to deliver medicines to our constituents… it’s signaling to all actors in the medicine industry, from pharma to the supply chain to hospital, that government is ready to use the law in order to deliver help to our constituents through cheaper medicines,” Gatchalian said. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)