FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILI?PINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to institutionalize the Philippine National Drug Policy (PNDP) as 
a permanent service of the Department of Health to ensure a more focused, research- 
driven and transparent efforts to ensure the affordability, accessibility and availability 
of essential drugs and medicines for all. 
The PhiIippine National Drug Policy was conceived in April 1987 after 
identifying crucial issues and problems confronting the availability and accec,cibility of 
essential drugs and medicines. Its main objective was to ensure that safe, efficacious 
and good quality essential drugs are made available to all Filipinos at any time and 
place at reasonable and affordable cost, with emphasis on rational drug use. 
The enactment of Republic Act No. 6675 or the Generics Act of 1988 provided 
legal framework for the implementation of the PNDP Program. However, over the 
years, it has been beset with setbacks like erratic pattern of prescribing generic 
antibiotics, which treat diseases like Acute Respiratory Infections and Urinary Tract 
Infections. Furthermore, there have been reports that doctors are enticed to prescribe 
branded medicines in exchange for incentives from the drug company. 
Thus, this proposed measure will provide for the institutionalization of PNDP to 
a level equal to other services of the Department of Health. The Drug Policy Services 
under this bill shall coordinate with government agencies relating to the promotion of 
local production of essential drugs, cost-effective drug procurement and correct use of 
drugs and medicines, update the Philippine National Drug Formulary or the Essential 
Drugs List and prepare and publish a consumer guide to prescription and non- 
prescription drug prices to guide the public in the purchase of drugs and medicines. 
In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought. 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
ENSTJRING 
AFFORDABILITY, 
ACCESSIBILITY AND AVAILABILITY 
OF 
ESSENTIAL DRUGS AND MEDICINES, CREATING FOR THE PURPOSE THE 
DRUG POLICY 
SERVICES WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared the policy of the state 
to protect and promote the right to health of the people and to adopt an integrated and 
comprehensive approach to health development. Thus, the drug Policy Services is 
hereby created within the Department of Health to ensure that safe, efficacious and 
good quality essential drugs be made available to all Filipinos at any time and place at 
reasonable and affordable cost with emphasis on rational drug use. 
SECTION 2. Creation. There is hereby created the Drug Policy Services within 
the Department of Health. The head of the Drug Policy Services shall be of equal rank 
and level as all the other heads of Services within the Department of Health. 
SECTION 3. Powers and Functions. The Drug Policy Service shall have the 
a) Identify and establish short-range and long-range programs coordinate all 
the activities with the department of Health relating to promotion of local 
production of essential drugs, cost effective drug procurement and correct 
use of drugs and Medicines; 
b) Provide expert advice, and consult with the Secretary of Health concerning 
scientific, legal, ethical and policy issues relating to the government's drug 
policy. 
c) Develop modules for rational drug use. Education in communities and for 
inclusion in medical School curriculum; 
d) Spearhead the updating of the Philippine National Drug Formulary (PNDF) 
or the Essential Drugs List and the Deve!opment of standard treatment 
guidelines; 
e) Develop Intervention strategies to improve drug use in Health facilities and 
operate the drug Information Center; 
following powers and functions: 


f) Establish linkage with health providers, consumer, consumer groups, non- 
government organization 
(NGOs), 
academe, 
agricultural/Veterinary 
groups, drug industry and other relevant government agencies 
g) Ensure affordability, accessibility and availability of essential drugs through 
an efficient selection and procurement system 
h) Prepare and publish a consumer guide to prescription and non- prescription 
drug prices which shall contain a list of the prices of all prescription and 
non-prescription drugs in an easy to understand format within one (1) year 
after the enactment of this Act and shall publish an updated version of the 
consumer guide annually thereafter. 
i) To undertake research programs for the attainment of the objecti:.2s of this 
Act; 
j) Assist health care providers in determining the cost-effectiveness of 
prescription drugs; 
k) Coordinate all activities towards an integrated and comprehensive approach 
for the availability, affordability and accessibility of quality drugs; 
1) Promote cooperation and encourage active participation of private sectors 
and non-government organization; and 
m) Perform such other powers and functions pursuant to its mandate. 
SECTION 4. Reportorial Requirements. Not later than March 15 of every year 
after the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health shall prepare and submit to the 
committees on Health of Congress a report describing the activities carried out under 
this Act and describing how those activities have influenced and affected the primordial 
goal provided under this Act. 
SECTION 5. Transfer of Personnel, Assist, Projects, Functions, Programs, 
Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources. The personnel, assets, projects, fmctions, 
programs, facilities, equipment and other resources of the National Drug Policy 
Program within the Department of Health are hereby transferred to the Drug Policy 
Services. 
SECTION 6. Structure and Staffing Pattern. The organizational framework and 
staffing of the service shall be prescribed and approved by the secretary of health 
within sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act. The positions created therein shall 
be filled by regular appointments. Provided, that, appointments must comply with the 
qualification standards set by the Civil Service Commission. 
SECTION 7. Appropriation. The amount of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00), 
not otherwise appropriated, shall be initially appropriated out of the funds of National 
Treasury which shall be added to the present budgetary allocation for the National 
drug Policy Programs. Provided, that, the total initial appropriated amount shall not 
exceed Twenty-five million pesos (P25,000,000.00). subsequent appropriations shall be 
provided by Congress in the annual budget of the department of health under General 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 8. Separability Clause. If any provision of this Act is declared invalid 
or unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of .the other 
provisions. 


SECTION 9. Repealing CIause. AI1 laws, decrees, executive orders, 
proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are 
hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at in least two (2) 
newspaper of general circulation.