;S.e\111tr 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
{Ill!>;" "f l~.;j.,n.lor~ 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
on 
OCT -3 P5:51 
SENATE 
S. No. 
1811 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article XIII, Section II, 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 necess,ary 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.' 
Lw,- 4 ~o~~ ,o.~~ 
pPf,MIRIAM DEF~NSOR s'f!NTLrv 
• This bill was re-filed during the Thitteenth Congress, First Regular Session. 


, .' 
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 1811 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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'13 
OCT -3 P5 :51 
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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 L 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 Commission" (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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(B) 
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(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
A study on the cost of prescription pharmaceutical products in the 
Philippines; 
A study on the drug prices in other industrialized nations; and 
A study on the feasibility of establishing in the Philippines a 
pharmaceutical products price review board. 
In conducting the study under paragraph (A)(3), the Commission shall-
(1) 
Assess the impact of such a board in other industrialized nations, such as 
the United States, on containing the costs of prescription drugs and the 
introductory prices of new drugs; 
(2) 
Recommend how such a board might operate in the Philippines, including 
membership of the Board; 
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(C) 
(3) 
(4) 
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 
Recommend incentives for drug manufacturers to price their products 
fairly in the Philippines. 
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 include information and recommendations regarding national 
and international drug policy issues, such as -
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
Trends and changes in prices for prescription and nonprescription 
drugs in the Philippines; 
Trends and changes in prices for prescription drugs in other 
indnstrialized nations, such as the United States, Canada, Japan, 
Mexico, and countries of the European Union; 
The availability and affordability of prescription drugs in the 
Philippines; or 
Recommendations to make prescription drugs more affordable and 
cost-effective; 
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(D) 
Special Report. - The Commission shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
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the Senate and the House of Representatives, by not later than two (2) years after the enactment 
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ofthis Act, a report on the study conducted nnder subsection (A)(3). 
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SECTION 4. Membership. -
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(A) 
Number and Appointment. - The Commission shan be composed of seven (7) 
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members to be appointed by the President. 
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(B) 
Qualifications. -
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(1) 
In General. - The membership of the Commission shall include the 
following: 
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(2) 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
Individuals with national recognition for their expertise in the 
fields of health care economics and quality assurance, medicine, 
pharmacology, pharmacy, and prescription drugs; 
Other health care professionals; and 
Representatives from nongovernment organizations advocating 
consumer rights. 
Limitation. - No more than two (2) individuals who are, or have been, in 
the full or part-time employ of a pharmaceutical company within one (1) 
year from the date of appointment under subsection (1) may be appointed 
to the Commission at any time. 
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(C) 
Chairperson. - The Chairperson 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. 
(E) 
Terms.-
(1) 
(2) 
In General. -
Each member shall be appointed for the life of the 
Commission. 
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. 
(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, heads of 
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government agencies 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 tertninate 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 ofthis 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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valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidentiai decree or issuance, executive 
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order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule, or regulati~n 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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