Press Release
February 21, 2007

ROXAS WELCOMES HOUSE APPROVAL
OF DRUGS BILL ON SECOND READING

Senator Mar Roxas welcomed the approval on second reading of House Bill No. 6035, which he said brings the country nearer its goal of providing lower-priced medicines to the people.

Roxas , who sponsored Senate Bill 2263 with Senator Pia Cayetano, said public vigilance is still needed to make sure that the pending measure is approved on third and final reading when sessions resume on June 4, 5, and 6.

I am grateful to the House leadership for steering the bill through second reading. This is a major step forward in our quest for affordable healthcare, and Im glad the Lower House burned the midnight oil just to have it approved, the senator added.

The senator called on the public to continue to monitor the progress of the bill until it is finally enacted into law, in view of a strong lobby effort by some multinational pharmaceutical firms.

This is the peoples bill. Their clamor for more affordable medicines must prevail, and Im glad that members of the House heeded the voice of the people in last nights session, Roxas said.

He said the Intellectual Property Code needs to be amended to correct an unjust situation, where Filipinos have no choice but to buy medicines at prices that are five times or more than the selling price in other countries.

Ang Norvasc, isang gamot para sa hypertension, ay mabibili dito sa halagang P45 sa bawat tableta, ngunit sa ibang bansa, ito ay kayang bilhin sa P5 lamang. Malinaw na kaya pang ibaba ng mga multinational drug firm ang presyo ng gamot dito sa atin. Sa pamamagitan ng parallel importation na pinapayagan sa ilalim ng aming panukalang batas, magiging legal ang pag-angkat ng mas murang gamot mula sa ibang bansa upang mabili dito sa atin sa higit na mababang presyo.

The proposed amendments are legal, consistent with international agreements on public health and intellectual property, and other countries are doing it. Once this bill is enacted, Filipinos will no longer be second class in terms of access to affordable medicines, compared to citizens of other countries, Roxas pointed out.

The proposed amendments, he explained are in-line and compliant with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights or TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Roxas has been an active advocate of affordable medicines since the time he was a congressman and as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Industry.

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