THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
S. No. 
6G9 
. .  
~~ 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VELAR, JR. 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 13 provides: 
Sec. 11. The State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other 
social services available to all people at affordable cost. There shall be priority for 
the needs of the underprivileged, sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. The 
State shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. 
Prescription drugs represent one of the most frequently used medical care interventions in 
treating common, acute and chronic diseases. However, many Filipinos especially the elderly, are 
unable to afford necessary medications because of excessive persistent prescription drug price 
inflation. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish a prescription drug price monitoring commission that will 
study the cost of prescription pharmaceutical products in the Philippines and recommend plausible 
ways to make prescription drugs more affordable and cost-effective. 
n 


THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
~~~ 
~ 
INTRODUCED BY HON. MANUEL B. VILLAR, JR. 
~~ 
~ 
AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE MONITORING 
COMMISSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled. 
SECTION 1. Short Title.- This Act shall be known as the "Prescription Drug Price 
Monitoring Commission Act. It 
SECTION 2. Establishment.- There is established a commission to be known as the 
Prescription Drug Price Monitoring Commission" (in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). 
SECTION 3, Duties of the Commission. 
(a) STUDIES- The Commission shall conduct the following studies: 
(1) A study on the cost of prescription pharmaceutical products in the Philippines. 
(2) A study on drug prices in other industrialized nations. 
(3) A study on the feasibility of establishing in the Philippines a pharmaceutical products price 
review board. 
(A) In conducting the study under subsection (a)(3), the Commission shall 
(i) assess the impact of such a board in other industrialized nations, such as United States, on 
containing the costs of prescription drugs and the introductory prices of new drugs; 


(ii) recommend how such a board might operate in the Philippines, includmg the membership of the 
Board: 
(iii) recommend guidelines that might be used by the board in determining whether prices or 
price increases for prescription drugs are excessive and whether the introductory prices of new drugs 
are excessive; and 
(iv) recommend incentives for drug manufacturers to price their products fairly in the 
Philippines. 
(b) REPORTS- . 
(1) ANNUAL REPORTS- The Commission shall submit to the Congress an annual report 
(beginning on the third year after the enactment of this Act) which shall a include information and 
recommendations regarding national and international drug policy issues, such as- 
(A) trends and changes in prices for prescription and nonprescription drugs in the 
Philippines; 
(B) trends and changes in prices for prescription drugs in other industrialized nations, such 
as the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, and countries of the European Union; 
(C) the availability and affordability of prescription drugs in the Philippines; 
(D) recommendations to make prescription drugs more affordable and cost effective; 
(2) SPECIAL REPORT- The Commission shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the 
Philippine Senate, the Committee on Trade and Commerce and the Committee on Ways and Means 
of the House of Representatives, by not later than 2 years after the enactment of this Act, a report on 
the study conducted under subsection (a)(3). 
SECTION 4, Membership. 
(a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT- The Commission shall be composed of 7 members 
appointed as follows: 


(1) The President shall appoint three members. 
(2) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member. 
(3) The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one member. 
(4) The majority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member. 
(5) The minority leader of the Senate shall appoint one member. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS - 
(1) IN -GENERAL- The membership of the Commission shall include the following: 
(A) Individuals with national recognition for their expertise in the fields of health care 
economics and quality assurance, medicine, pharmacology, pharmacy, and prescription drug. 
(B) Other health care professionals. 
(2) LMITATION- No more than 2 individuals who are, or have been, in the full or part-time 
employ of a pharmaceutical company within one year from the date of appointment under 
subsection (a) may be appointed to the Commission at any time. 
(c) CHAIRMAN-The Chairman shall be elected by the members. 
(d) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT- Members of the Commission shall be appointed not 
later than one year after the enactment of this Act. 
(e) TERMS- 
(1) IN GENERAL- Each member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. 
(2) VACANCIES- A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in which the original 
appointment was made. 
(f) MEETINGS- The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its 
members. 


(g) QUORUM- Four members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number 
may hold hearings. 
SECTION 5. Technical Assistance- Upon the request of the Commission, the head of a government 
agency shall provide such technical assistance to the Commission as the Commission determines to 
be necessary to cany out its duties. 
SECTION 6. Termination. - The Commission shall terminate five years after the enactment 
of this Act. 
SECTION 7. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision shall remain valid and subsisting. 
SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive order, 
letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent with, the 
provision of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved,