Propoor Congress

By Dan Mariano 

Manila Times – February 19, 2007

Our congressmen may not know it, but millions of Filipinos are praying for them at this very moment. These are the Filipinos who are afflicted with hypertension, diabetes, heart diseases and other ailments that require mega-doses and sustained intake of medicine.

They have a greater affliction, however. They cannot afford the price of their medicine—most, if not all, of which are patented by giant multinational pharmaceutical firms. This is the reason for the chorus of prayers from millions of our countrymen.

During the next two days, Congress meets in special session that, hopefully, would lead to the passage of House Bill 6035. If the bill is finally passed, our ailing countrymen may finally be able to afford the price of the treatments they need.

HB 6035 seeks to amend the Intellectual Property Code. The proposed amendments would make the code more favorable to Filipinos who need medicine within their reach.

Among others, the bill allows for the so-called parallel importation of cheaper patented drugs and aims to curb the practice of prolonging the life of these patents, which give the multinationals the excuse to keep their medicine exorbitantly priced.

Once HB 6035 becomes law, its proponents say patients can look forward to more affordable generic versions of expensive branded drugs. In sum, the proposed law wants to provide a cure to the most debilitating ailment sick Filipinos suffer from—expensive treatments beyond their reach.

Principally authored by Rep. Junie Cua of Quirino, the bill is cosponsored by party-list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel. Evidently, the bill enjoys broad support from all political quarters, Right, Left and Center.

Reporters covering the House recall that the bill met no violent opposition from congressmen during the deliberation processes. They take this as a sign the lawmakers realize the importance of giving our countrymen hope that they can still survive their ailments with the availability of affordable medicines, which are as effective and safe as the astronomically-priced branded versions sold by multinationals.

Hopes are high that HB 6035 would finally be passed this week during the special session. If this happens, this legislature could land in our history books as one of the most propoor congresses we have ever had—one that placed the interest and welfare of poor ailing Filipinos over and above anything else.

In addition to the absence of serious opposition from congressmen, there are two other pieces of good news related to this bill: One, President Arroyo has actually certified the bill as a priority measure. Two, its counterpart version—authored by Sen. Mar Roxas—was passed by the Senate last month.

Observers say there are only two possible impediments to the passage of HB 6035. One is the competition for attention. The bill might be sidetracked by such proposals as Speaker Jose de Venecia’s billion-trees bill, which the opposition suspects aims to create a “slush fund” for the ruling coalition this election season.

Proponents of HB 6035 are also concerned about an effort to drag the process leading to the bill’s passage. While no strong issues are being raised against affordable medicines, observers say the bill’s opponents plan to delay its passage through endless interpellations and postponement of discussions. Previous attempts to provide poor Filipino with medicine within their reach were foiled with similar delaying tactics.

Last year, for instance, giant drug firms collided head on with government agencies on the issue of parallel importation. This deplorable incident was highlighted by lawsuits filed against Obet Pagdanganan, chairman of the Philippine International Trading Corp.

Pagdanganan wanted to bring in antihypertensive medication from India since these are cheaper by over 50 percent compared to the same brand sold locally. Pagdanganan paid dearly for that effort.

Hopefully, with the passage of the propoor HB 6035, no Filipino official will ever be sued again for giving sick Filipinos medicines they can afford. It should not be a “crime” to try and get poor people well at lower cost.