Are we at the mercy of multinational pharma companies ? Here are differing opinions from www.upou.kapehan.net :

Posted by AlvinG on December 04, 2006, 04:03:54 PM

I’ve read in the newspapers recently about how Pfizer is trying to delay (legally) the introduction of cheap, imported drugs in the market. How do you guys feel about the fact that prices of drugs in the Philippines are 50-90% higher than those in India? Sad For example, there used to be only 1 anti-hypertensive drug of its kind available, Norvasc from Pfizer. It costs 44.50 per 5mg. Then, Therapharma recently introduced a similar drug, Amvasc, for only 17.50! And now, in reaction to this new drug, Pfizer is now offering a 50% reduction (discount daw). Eh pwede naman palang cheap eh!!!

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=alvinCapino_nov10_2006

A lot of Filipinos have died because they cannot afford medication. And the multinational pharma companies are enjoying a very huge profit margin at the expense of the poor. Ang dami-dami nga nilang mga pinamimigay sa med-reps and doctors eh, even trips abroad. It’s about time we have cheaper drugs, because I’m sure sooner or later, you’re gonna need to buy those…

Replies:

It’s not all the pharma companies’ fault and it’s also not completely true that they enjoy windfall profits at the expense of the poor-average to rich people have the same need for the same meds and insurance companies carry the biggest outlay that goes into their pockets. but that’s not to discount the point by many that meds have risen or remained expensive for the most part - even those who have insurance believe so. But when you think about the 44.00 one might have to pay for meds and some of the same poor people spend a good chunk for a burger, case of beer or gin, soda, cigarettes, gulaman, taho, bibingka, turon, isaw, chicken head, hotdog, balot, penoy, starbucks, cell phones, text messaging or whatever else in the course of a week, you wonder if 44.00 or is really expensive. if a poor person thinks drinking sprees or kewl cell phones are more important than his or her own health, then it becomes difficult to justify 44 being expensive. What gets lost in the discussions is the fact that people perceive healthcare to be the responsibility of the government, or companies they work for (to provide affordable insurance), or pharma companies to provide cheap meds and not for them to plan for. when they find themselves in a situation where they need meds, they expect it to be provided to them - free if possible, cheap at the very least. we don’t generally include healthcare when we discuss the future with our children - we would tell them to get educated so they can hopefully get a good job and get the things they need and want - like cars, a nice house, nice clothes, eat at exquisite restaurants, but how many of us have been told by someone (or our parents) to get good education so that we can afford good insurance to cover our healthcare needs later on in our lives? how many of us tell our children to put healthcare above all else when they do get a good job? chances are, very few, if any, have heard a conversation of that nature - because, again, we expect healthcare as part of a package that “should be” provided to us later on either by a company or the government at the very least. (Monching Litonjua, on December 06, 2006, 11:52:55 AM)

I have the same observation as i get to compare prices of medicines in different Asian countries… Philippines really is very expensive… In some countries though, medicines are cheaper because they are subsidized by their country or they have donor countries (e.g. Vietnam). On the other hand, while not all pharma companies do it, most of them really take advantage of us Filipinos! (Evelyn Leviste, on December 06, 2006, 01:40:18 PM)