/ 
FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
In ilil 1') P2 ::J,'i 
SEN~Tf: 
S.No. 11178 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, 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 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 
and other vulnerable populations, are' unable to afford necessary medications because of 
excessive persistent prescription drug price inflation. 
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. * 
• This bill was re-filed during the Thirteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
10 
.illt 15 P2 :,14 
n€cr:,VfP H'J 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
I 
AN ACT 
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ESTABLISHING A PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE MONITORING COMMISSION 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Prescription Drug Price 
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Monitoring Act." 
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SECTION 2. Establishment. - There is established a commission to be known as the 
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"Prescription Drug Price Monitoring COlpmission" (in this Act referred to as the "Commission"). 
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SECTION 3. Duties of the Commission.-
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(A) Studies. - The Commission shall conduct the following studies: 
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(1) A study on the .cost of prescription pharmaceutical products in the Philippines; 
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(2) A study on the drug prices in other industrialized nations; and 
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(3) A study on the feasibility of establishing in the Philippines a pharmaceutical 
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products price review board. 
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(B) In conducting the study under paragraph (A)(3), the Commission shall-
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(1) Assess the impact of such a board in other industrialized nations, such as the 
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United States, on containing the costs of prescription drugs and the 
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introductory prices of new drugs; 
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(2) Recommend how such a board might operate in the Philippines, including 
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membership of the Board; 
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(3) Recommend guidelines that might be used by the Board in determining 
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whether prices or price increases for prescription drugs are excessive and 
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whether the introductory prices of new drugs are excessive; and 
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(4) Recommend incentives for drug manufacturers to price their products fairly in 
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the Philippines. 
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(C) Reports. -
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(1) Annual Reports. - The Commission shall submit to the Congress an annual 
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report, beginning on the third year after the enactment of this Act, which shall 
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include 
information 
and 
recommendations 
regarding 
national 
and 
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international drug policy issues, such as -
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(a) Trends and changes in prices for prescription and nonprescription 
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drugs in the Philippines; 
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(b) Trends and changes III prices for prescription drugs in other 
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industrialized nations, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, 
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Mexico, and countries of the European Union; 
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(c) The availability and afford'abi1ity of prescription drugs m the 
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Philippines; or 
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(d) Recommendations to make prescription drugs more affordable and 
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cost-effective; 
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(D) Special Report. - The Commission shall submit to the Committee on Finance of the 
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Philippine Senate, the Committee on Trade and Commerce, and the Committee on 
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Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, by not later than two (2) years 
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after the enactment of this Act, a report on the study conducted under subsection 
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(A)(3). 
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SECTION 4. Membership. -
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(A) Number and Appointment. - The Commission shall be composed of seven (7) 
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members to be appointed as follows: 
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(1) The President shall appoint three (3) members; 
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(2) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shal1 appoint one (1) member; 
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(3) The minority leader of the House of Representatives shall appoint one (1) 
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member; 
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(4) The majority leader of the Senate shal1 appoint one (1) member; and 
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(5) The minority leader ofthe Senate shal1 appoint one (1) member. 
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(B) Qualifications. -
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(1) In General. - The membership of the Commission shal1 include the following: 
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(a) Individuals with national recognition for their expertise in the fields of 
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health care economics and quality assurance, medicine, pharmacology, 
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pharmacy, and prescription drugs; and 
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(b) Other health care professionals. 
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(2) Limitation. - No more than two (2) individuals who are, or have been, in the 
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full or part-time employ of a pharmaceutical company within one (1) year from the date 
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of appointment under subsection (1) may be appointed to the Commission at any time. 
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(C) Chairman. - The Chairman shall be elected by the members. 
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(D) Deadline for Appointment. - Members of the Commission shall be appointed not 
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later than one (1) year after the enactment of this Act. 
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(E) Terms. -
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(1) In General. - Each member shall be appointed for the life of the Commission. 
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(2) Vacancies. - A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in 
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which the original appointment was made. 
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(F) Meetings. - The Commission shall meet at the cal1 ofthe Chairperson or a majority of 
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its members. 
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(0) Quorum. - Four (4) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum but a 
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lesser number may hold hearings. 
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SECTION 5. Technical Assistance. - Upon the request of the Commission, the head of a 
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government agency shall provide such technical assistance to the Commission as the 
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Commission determines to be necessary to carry out its duties. 
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SECTION 6. Termination. - The Commission shall tenninate five (5) years after the 
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enactment of this Act. 
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SECTION 7. Authorization of Appropriations. - There are authorized to be appropriated 
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such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. 
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SECTION 8. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid or 
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unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
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vaiid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule Of regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
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with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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