Press Release
September 15, 2007

SENATE TO BEEF UP BFAD TO CHECK QUALITY OF FOOD AND DRUGS

The Senate committees on Trade & Commerce and Health & Demography are bent on equipping the Bureau of Food and Drugs with the necessary powers and resources to monitor and ensure the entry of quality, affordable food and medicines.

"We need to beef up BFAD. This will complement our efforts to ease the importation of quality affordable drugs in the country while also ensuring the safety and quality of local and imported food products especially in light of the fast-approaching Christmas season," Senator Mar Roxas, chairman of the Senate Trade committee, said.

He said the joint committee intends to come up with a separate piece of legislation to address the BFAD's present lack of manpower and finances.

BFAD executives present in the Senate hearing on affordable medicines cited the lack of manpower and resources as a major hindrance to their inspections of pharmacies around the country to check on whether doctors include generic drugs in their prescriptions to patients. The Generics Act stipulates that prescriptions for medicines should include the name of the generics drugs to offer patients a cheaper alternative to branded medicines.

"Sanhi ng globalisasyon, madaling makapasok sa ating bansa ang mga produktong gawa sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo. Tumatayo ang BFAD bilang gatekeeper ng Pilipinas laban sa mga pagkain at gamot na peke o kulang sa kalidad," Roxas said.

"Kailangan nating patibayin ang BFAD para magdalawang-isip ang nais magbenta o magpasok ng peke o substandard na pagkain at gamot lalo na sa pagsapit ng Pasko," he added.

The senator, also known as "Mr. Palengke," noted that imported food products such as fruits, canned goods, and candies flood the local markets at the advent of the Christmas season.

"The vigilance and capability of other countries in protecting consumers against substandard food and medicines must also be duplicated here in our country. To accomplish this, we need to invest in a stronger, more capable and modern BFAD," Roxas pointed out.

Aside from strengthening the BFAD, other proposals are being eyed for a comprehensive package for quality, affordable medicines. These include the review or amendments to the Generics Act, the Pharmacy Law and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. Charter, including these laws' implementing rules and regulations and how this has been complied with.

Roxas' Senate Bill 101, which allows the importation of quality, affordable drugs from abroad, continues to receive widespread support from different sectors including the Health and Trade departments, which called for its approval by Congress.

SB 101 also seeks to adopt the "early working" doctrine to allow generics manufacturers to begin experimentation, production and registration of drugs prior to expiry of patents. The bill also prevents patent holders from extending their patents on frivolous grounds such as the discovery of a "new use."

The bill also grants the government discretion in use of patents when public health is at stake, and provides a framework for government use and compulsory licensing, with adequate compensation to the patent holder.

The joint committee will continue on Monday its hearings on measures to lower the prices of medicines.

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