“Endless bickering and blaming will not resolve the lack of accessible and affordable medicines for the public. The House of Representatives should have sincerely prioritized the passage of the Cheaper Medicines Bill during the previous 13th Congress.” Edeliza Hernandez, Coordinator of Cut the Cost, Cut the Pain Network (3CPNet) said.
Hernandez comment was in response to the existing debate over who should be held accountable for the death of HB 6035 or the Cheaper Medicines Bill. Iloilo Representatives Ferjenel Biron and Janette Garin reportedly blamed Senator Mar Roxas in a press conference this week over his alleged opposition to the house version of the said bill.
“The reality was that, instead of focusing on bills protecting the peoples right to health, our congressmen were more interested in passing bills that serves their own interest such as the PAGCOR extension bill”. Hernandez added.
House Bill No. 6035 later known as the Cheaper Medicines Bill, sought to amend patent provisions of the Intellectual Property Code. Amended provisions includes the parallel importation of cheaper patented medicines, the early development and manufacturing of generic versions of patented medicines and the ability of the government to issue compulsory licenses to generic drug manufacturers in situations of public health emergency among others.
“Our Constitution clearly states that Congress should prioritize bills that would uphold human rights and the peoples’ welfare. However, the non-passage of H.B. No. 6035, proves once again that instead of promoting and protecting the peoples’ interest our congressmen opted to protect their own political and economic gains”. Hernandez reiterated.
“Now that the bill was defeated in the House, instead of owing up to their faults the congressmen are now busy throwing the blame at each other. If this is a sneak preview of the manner tin which the members of the 14th Congress will conduct their affairs, then in the final analysis, it is the people who will once again suffer from the selfish interest and endless politicking of the members of the House.” Hernandez concluded.
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Global Voices Online » Philippines: Expensive Medicines // 10, October 2007 at 8:54 am |
[...] the Cost, Cut the Pain Network blames the infighting of lawmakers on why medicines remain expensive: “Instead of owing up to their faults the congressmen are now [...]