HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

RECEIVED
7
SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) ard” AUG 2016
OF THE PHILIPPINES ) e
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
HRNo. 3038 REEISTR ATION UNIT
4 SERVICE

Introduced by Representative Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PREPARE AND PUBLISH ANNUALLY A
CONSUMER GUIDE TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution, Article 13, Section 11, provides:
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 the people at affordable cost.

Republic Act No. 9502, also known as the
Medicines Act of 2008,” Section 2 states:

iniversally Accessible Cheaper and Quality

Section 2. Declaration of Policy.— It is the policy of the State to protect public
health and when the public interest or circumstances of extreme urgency so require, it
shall adopt appropriate measures to promote and ensure access to affordable quality drugs
and medicines for all

This bill seeks to direct the Department of Health to prepare and publish an annual
consumer guide for the suggested retail prices of prescription drugs.

A guide which indicates the suggested retail prices of drugs will help the consumers

determine the effectiveness of prescription drugs and therapies. This will enable the buyer to
adequately exercise his option by giving him sufficient information about the prices of other drug

products available in the market,"

HARRY L. ROQUE JR.

" This bill was originally filed in the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session, and refiled by
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago in the Sixteenth Congress, Third Regular Session.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC)
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
H.B. No. 3t

Introduced by Representative Harry L. Roque Jr.

AN ACT
DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO PREPARE AND PUBLISH
ANNUALLY A CONSUMER GUIDE TO PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

1 SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Prescription Drug Consumer

2 Information Act.”

3 SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is the policy of the State to ensure the adequate
4 supply of prescription drugs at the lowest possible cost. As embodied in the Constitution, the
5 State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall
6 endeavor to make essential foods, health and other social services available to all people at

7 affordable cost.

8 SECTION 3. Definition of Terms, — For purposes of this Act, the term:
9 (1) “Consumer Guide” means the listing of suggested retail prices of prescription drugs;
10 and

itt (2) “Department” means the Department of Health;


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SECTION 4. Preparation of Consumer Guide. ~ The Department shall prepare and

publish a consumer guide to prescription drug prices.

SECTION 5S. /nformation in the Consumer Guide. — The consumer guide shall contain:

(1) A list of the suggested retail prices of all prescription drugs in an easy-to-understand
format organized by therapeutic category: and

(2) Such other related information as the Department determines will assist (A)
consumers in reducing expenses for prescription drugs; and (B) health care providers in
determining the cost-effectiveness of prescription drugs as compared to other prescription drugs

and to other therapies.

SECTION6 Publication, — The Department shall publish the first consumer guide within
one year after the date of the effectivity of this Act and shall publish an updated version of the

consumer guide annually thereafter.

SECTION 7. Availability of Consumer Guide. ~ The Department shall publish the
consumer guide on its website. It shall also provide for the dissemination of the consumer guide
widely to consumers of prescription drugs and health care providers; and encourage
organizations representing senior citizens, health care consumers, and health care professionals

to make the consumer guide available to the members of the organizations.

SECTION 8. Authorization ofAppropriations. ~ To carry out the provisions of this Act,

there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year


SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other provisions

hereof.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, decrees, orders, and issuances, or portions
thereof, which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, amended or

modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity Clause. ~This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,