ROXAS SEEKS SUPPORT FOR CHEAPER MEDICINES ACT OF 2008
WARNS AGAINST CONTINUED LOBBYING BY BIG PHARMA FIRMS

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today appealed to the public to join his continuing advocacy to make affordable and quality medicines available to every Filipino, particularly the poor.

He said that while the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008, which he authored had been enacted into law and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) approved by President Arroyo, the public needs to remain vigilant about its proper implementation.

"Hindi pa tapos ang laban. Simula pa lang ito dahil kailangan nating tiyakin na maipatutupad ng tama ang bawat probisyon ng batas (The fight is not over yet. This is just the beginning, we have to make sure that the law is properly implemented)," he said during a recent dinner with almost 100 entertainment media persons.

The Ilonggo senator had been advocating the people's right to access to affordable and quality medicines since he was a congressman, engaging giant pharmaceutical companies to a bitter fight for the past 10 years.

"Sampung taon nating pinaglaban 'yan. Sampung taon tayong binugbog ng pharmaceutical industry. Kung anu-anong putik ang tinapon sa atin, pero hindi tayo natinag. Gusto nating babaan nila ang presyo ng mga binebenta nilang gamot (I fought for the passage of this law for 10 years. Pharmaceutical companies threw mud and dirt at me but I did not waver. I will not stop until they bring down the prices of medicines they are selling to the public)," he added.

He said public vigilance is necessary to ensure that big drug manufacturers do not collude with corrupt government officials and bar the correct administration of the new law's provisions.

"Magtulungan tayo. Kailangan nating maging mapagmatiyag upang makasiguro na maipatutupad ng tama ang batas na ito. Bantayan nating mabuti itong mga drug manufacturers na ito at siguruhing hindi nila mai-impluwensiyahan ang mga ahensiyang naatasang magpatupad nito (Let us help one another. We have to be keep a watchful eye on these drug manufacturers and make sure that they do not influence the agencies tasked to enforce the law)," he added.

The senator likewise challenged the government to give life to the public health provisions of the Constitution and to adhere to its social contract with the people.

"Kinakailang magpakita ng administrasyong ito ng tapang at political will para ipaglaban ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino na makabili ng mura at de-kalidad na gamot. Itigil na muna nila ang kanilang pamumulitika para matutukan naman nila ang mga tunay na pangangailangan ng sambayanan (The government must have the political will to fight for the citizens' right to cheap but quality medicines. It should stop focusing on politics so it can concentrate on serving the real needs of the people)," he stressed.