VILLAR: BILL THAT WILL LOWER MEDICINE PRICES PASSED

Senate President Manny Villar, President of the Nacionalista Party, says the approval today (Jan. 31) on third reading of Senate Bill 2263 that seeks amendment to Republic Act (RA) 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code will over the long term benefit the people by lowering prices of medicines and increasing access to medicines.

We have approved on third reading Senate Bill 2263, which has been certified as urgent by Malacañang . The bill aims to lower prices of medicines and improve the peoples access to medicines. Ultimately, it may ease the burden of Filipinos, especially the poor, who cannot afford medicines anymore, says Villar.

Villar adds, We have emphasized that the Senates priority is to pass bills that address peoples health, education and other key requirements. The passage of bills like this should still be coupled with adequate increase in the health budget every year in order to fund the health programs and reforms.

Senate Bill 2263 or an act to make the laws on patents, trade names and trademarks more responsive to the healthcare needs of the Filipino people by clarifying non-patentable inventions, allowing the importation and early development of patented medicines and modifying government use provisions for drugs or medicines, to lower prices and increase access to supply of quality drugs or medicines, amending for this purpose certain provisions of R.A.8293 otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.

On Tuesday (Jan. 30), Senate Bill (SB) 2119 or an act rationalizing the celebration of national holidays amending Executive Order (EO) 292 was also approved on third reading.

The third regular session of the 13th Congress has so far approved 70 measures in a bid to legislate into law as many pending bills as possible before it adjourns next week (February 9).