Continuing the Fight for Cheaper Medicines

photo courtesty of SXC

Hi all,

Recently, Pfizer threatened to sue drugstores selling a cheaper drug made by a rival company. The pharmaceutical giant’s fight is obviously not with these drugstores but with Unilab. Why drag the stores into legal battles? Why threaten them for trying to make cheaper medicine available to an admittedly impoverished country?

One of the aims of the cheaper medicines law is to eliminate monopolies such as Pfizer’s. The law is there to protect those who would otherwise be bullied by these large multinational pharmaceutical companies. I for one support the drugstores who continue to sell these cheaper drugs – the more affordable, the better for our people. Apparently, Pfizer thinks otherwise. I’m here to ensure that it does not prevail.

I’m still in Japan but I’d like to know how people feel about the controversy. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Thanks,
M.

Share this
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • del.icio.us
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • http://www.facebook.com/angie.sarmiento Angie Sarmiento

    hi.

  • http://www.facebook.com/angie.sarmiento Angie Sarmiento

    hi.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bheverly.chiong Bheverly Chiong

    Sir is their a way to make the road more safety for people thats uses 2 wheels/bicycle? or a law mandating the national government to create specific lanes just for 2 wheels/bicycles vehicle so as to make people safe from accident from vehivles that is more than 2 wheels. This way more people will ride bicycle to work which has a lot of advantages than dis-advantages. 1.bicycle is more affordable and easier to acquire than other means of transportation 2.a bicycle don't consume petroleum which means people will be less dependent on oil, controlled and monopolized by the big three 3.less consumption of oil means less pollution emitted to the surroundings 4.In a way bicycle increases our healthy habits by giving us an exercise everyday… at the same time enjoying it 5.Bicycle help us to save our expenses by reducing transportation expenses and decrease our expenses in hospital bills indirectly. Since their are more family in the poverty ranking than the wealthy ranks. The only disadvantage of a bicycle is the increase use of rubber which a bicycle needs in order to work but nowadays rubber can be recycled to make new rubber, as such we are helping mother earth in our own small way.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bheverly.chiong Bheverly Chiong

    Sir is their a way to make the road more safety for people thats uses 2 wheels/bicycle? or a law mandating the national government to create specific lanes just for 2 wheels/bicycles vehicle so as to make people safe from accident from vehivles that is more than 2 wheels. This way more people will ride bicycle to work which has a lot of advantages than dis-advantages. 1.bicycle is more affordable and easier to acquire than other means of transportation 2.a bicycle don't consume petroleum which means people will be less dependent on oil, controlled and monopolized by the big three 3.less consumption of oil means less pollution emitted to the surroundings 4.In a way bicycle increases our healthy habits by giving us an exercise everyday… at the same time enjoying it 5.Bicycle help us to save our expenses by reducing transportation expenses and decrease our expenses in hospital bills indirectly. Since their are more family in the poverty ranking than the wealthy ranks. The only disadvantage of a bicycle is the increase use of rubber which a bicycle needs in order to work but nowadays rubber can be recycled to make new rubber, as such we are helping mother earth in our own small way.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bheverly.chiong Bheverly Chiong

    If possible push for a much much much cheaper medicine…… so as to make it available to everyone.. more power

  • http://www.facebook.com/bheverly.chiong Bheverly Chiong

    If possible push for a much much much cheaper medicine…… so as to make it available to everyone.. more power

  • http://twitter.com/mctastie anton villaluz

    Go MAR! Time to bully the bullies!

  • http://twitter.com/jenjentan Jennifer Tan

    MARrocks! Join us at http://www.friendsofmar.com :)

  • http://twitter.com/mctastie anton villaluz

    Go MAR! Time to bully the bullies!

  • http://twitter.com/jenjentan Jennifer Tan

    MARrocks! Join us at http://www.friendsofmar.com :)

  • ma.carmen feliciano

    hindi ba may karapatan din naman ang pfizer na bawiin ang lahat ng ginastos nila sa development AND TESTING ng mga gamot nila? at sa mga empleyado nila?

  • ma.carmen feliciano

    hindi ba may karapatan din naman ang pfizer na bawiin ang lahat ng ginastos nila sa development AND TESTING ng mga gamot nila? at sa mga empleyado nila?

  • Bon

    Hindi ba may karapatan ang mga may sakit na magkaroon ng mas murang alternatibo para makapamuhay ng mas mabuti? Walang masama na kumita. Pero kumita na ang Pfizer. Ang gusto nila ay kumita pa ng mas higit. Sabi nga, “we should moderate the greed.”

  • Bon

    Hindi ba may karapatan ang mga may sakit na magkaroon ng mas murang alternatibo para makapamuhay ng mas mabuti? Walang masama na kumita. Pero kumita na ang Pfizer. Ang gusto nila ay kumita pa ng mas higit. Sabi nga, “we should moderate the greed.”

  • che-che

    ayaw namin sayo kasi sa CAPIZ ka naman galing pero di mo manlang ginpakita sa video sang kasal mo ang CAPIZ. sana mabigyan naman ng chance na makilala na sana ang CAPIZ pero di mo ginawa. bakit of all provinces ang di mo pa pinuntahan ang lugar na kung saan doon nagsimula ang lahat na kung ano man ang meron ka ngayon……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… binigo mo kami MAR………………..

  • che-che

    ayaw namin sayo kasi sa CAPIZ ka naman galing pero di mo manlang ginpakita sa video sang kasal mo ang CAPIZ. sana mabigyan naman ng chance na makilala na sana ang CAPIZ pero di mo ginawa. bakit of all provinces ang di mo pa pinuntahan ang lugar na kung saan doon nagsimula ang lahat na kung ano man ang meron ka ngayon……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… binigo mo kami MAR………………..

  • evaancheta

    The battle should be confined to the 2 pharma, pfizer & Unilab. If Pfizer drags the retailers, then maybe the consumers will be next to be dragged into the courts.Whats the matter with pfizer?

  • evaancheta

    The battle should be confined to the 2 pharma, pfizer & Unilab. If Pfizer drags the retailers, then maybe the consumers will be next to be dragged into the courts.Whats the matter with pfizer?

  • evaancheta

    The battle should be confined to the 2 pharma, pfizer & Unilab. If Pfizer drags the retailers, then maybe the consumers will be next to be dragged into the courts.
    Whats the matter with pfizer?

  • evaancheta

    The battle should be confined to the 2 pharma, pfizer & Unilab. If Pfizer drags the retailers, then maybe the consumers will be next to be dragged into the courts.
    Whats the matter with pfizer?

  • mars

    pfizer is plain and simple, arrogant and greedy! it doesn't have the interest of the Filipino people at heart.this MNC is just after pocketing profit. pfizer is a bully. they thought they can get away withharassing local pharma retailers with court cases. i also support the local pharma retailers who thinks otherwise.pfizer should be banned and declared persona non grata.

  • mars

    pfizer is plain and simple, arrogant and greedy! it doesn't have the interest of the Filipino people at heart.this MNC is just after pocketing profit. pfizer is a bully. they thought they can get away withharassing local pharma retailers with court cases. i also support the local pharma retailers who thinks otherwise.pfizer should be banned and declared persona non grata.

  • mars

    pfizer is plain and simple, arrogant and greedy!
    it doesn't have the interest of the Filipino people at heart.
    this MNC is just after pocketing profit.

    pfizer is a bully. they thought they can get away with
    harassing local pharma retailers with court cases. i also
    support the local pharma retailers who thinks otherwise.

    pfizer should be banned and declared persona non grata.

  • mars

    pfizer is plain and simple, arrogant and greedy!
    it doesn't have the interest of the Filipino people at heart.
    this MNC is just after pocketing profit.

    pfizer is a bully. they thought they can get away with
    harassing local pharma retailers with court cases. i also
    support the local pharma retailers who thinks otherwise.

    pfizer should be banned and declared persona non grata.

  • kinlene_aming

    Tama po kayo, Senador Mar.Paano na lang po kaming mahihirap? Mamatay na lang po ba kami dahil sa di namin kayang bumili ng gamot na lunas sa aming mga sakit, sa mga sakit ng mga mahal namin sa buhay?Kailangan po namin ang isang katulad niyo na ipaglalaban ang karapatan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan ng bansang ito.Tao po kaming nilalang ng Poong Maykapal at may karapatan ding mabuhay!

  • kinlene_aming

    Tama po kayo, Senador Mar.Paano na lang po kaming mahihirap? Mamatay na lang po ba kami dahil sa di namin kayang bumili ng gamot na lunas sa aming mga sakit, sa mga sakit ng mga mahal namin sa buhay?Kailangan po namin ang isang katulad niyo na ipaglalaban ang karapatan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan ng bansang ito.Tao po kaming nilalang ng Poong Maykapal at may karapatan ding mabuhay!

  • kinlene_aming

    Tama po kayo, Senador Mar.

    Paano na lang po kaming mahihirap? Mamatay na lang po ba kami dahil sa di namin kayang bumili ng gamot na lunas sa aming mga sakit, sa mga sakit ng mga mahal namin sa buhay?

    Kailangan po namin ang isang katulad niyo na ipaglalaban ang karapatan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan ng bansang ito.

    Tao po kaming nilalang ng Poong Maykapal at may karapatan ding mabuhay!

  • kinlene_aming

    Tama po kayo, Senador Mar.

    Paano na lang po kaming mahihirap? Mamatay na lang po ba kami dahil sa di namin kayang bumili ng gamot na lunas sa aming mga sakit, sa mga sakit ng mga mahal namin sa buhay?

    Kailangan po namin ang isang katulad niyo na ipaglalaban ang karapatan ng mga mahihirap na mamamayan ng bansang ito.

    Tao po kaming nilalang ng Poong Maykapal at may karapatan ding mabuhay!

  • Ian

    I think you have a point. Pfizer's strong-arm tactics are not only bad for the industry, but it is also unfair to both the drugstore owners and the consumers who buy medicines. Especially at this time, when the recent calamities have left a lot of families struggling with the small resources they have. There are better ways to deal with the competition, I think. I wonder why Pfizer doesn't see that at the end of the day, they're hurting their own brand and bottom-line. Btw, just my opinion you really need to tweak your website. The design and the layout do not complement the content (your thoughts). If you can make it more dynamic, and reflective of “you” somehow, I think it can engage your readers more.

  • Ian

    I think you have a point. Pfizer's strong-arm tactics are not only bad for the industry, but it is also unfair to both the drugstore owners and the consumers who buy medicines. Especially at this time, when the recent calamities have left a lot of families struggling with the small resources they have. There are better ways to deal with the competition, I think. I wonder why Pfizer doesn't see that at the end of the day, they're hurting their own brand and bottom-line. Btw, just my opinion you really need to tweak your website. The design and the layout do not complement the content (your thoughts). If you can make it more dynamic, and reflective of “you” somehow, I think it can engage your readers more.

  • Ian

    I think you have a point. Pfizer's strong-arm tactics are not only bad for the industry, but it is also unfair to both the drugstore owners and the consumers who buy medicines. Especially at this time, when the recent calamities have left a lot of families struggling with the small resources they have. There are better ways to deal with the competition, I think. I wonder why Pfizer doesn't see that at the end of the day, they're hurting their own brand and bottom-line.

    Btw, just my opinion you really need to tweak your website. The design and the layout do not complement the content (your thoughts). If you can make it more dynamic, and reflective of “you” somehow, I think it can engage your readers more.

  • Ian

    I think you have a point. Pfizer's strong-arm tactics are not only bad for the industry, but it is also unfair to both the drugstore owners and the consumers who buy medicines. Especially at this time, when the recent calamities have left a lot of families struggling with the small resources they have. There are better ways to deal with the competition, I think. I wonder why Pfizer doesn't see that at the end of the day, they're hurting their own brand and bottom-line.

    Btw, just my opinion you really need to tweak your website. The design and the layout do not complement the content (your thoughts). If you can make it more dynamic, and reflective of “you” somehow, I think it can engage your readers more.

  • http://www.lexaprone.blogspot.com/ lexaprone

    I for one am not benefitting from the cheaper medicines bill. My mom has Parkinson's Disease, and her anti-PD, anti-psychotics, anti-depressants and relaxants are costing us Php550 every other day. What else can the government do to expand the bill further to include medicines such as those that my mom takes? Another gripe I have is the so-called 20% senior citizen's discount on meds, but it's actually only 8% because 12% goes to EVAT. What a joke. You know, Sir, I will vote for you and your kind if you look after the middle class as well. We are the ones paying honest taxes. Pansinin nyo naman kami, huwag lang mga “squatters”. Thank you po.

  • scaraos

    Hi, i was redundated by multi national pharmaceutical company, together with me was 40 plus medical representatives who also like me, lost their jobs due to cheaper medicine bill. Its true that lowering medicines benefited lots of people, but how will Mar Roxas address the issue of losing jobs among medical representatives in multinational and local company?. We send our siblings, children to school, paying our bills, and aim to build our home and living in our decent lives. Isa lang ang kumpanya namin na ng down sized ng tao marami pa ang mga sumunod.. And its been 5 mos, and im still having hard time to find a new job.
    I also want to clarify information why drugs like innovator one are high in price. We do the research of this for the people to be safe of taking it, specially those antibiotics and maintenance drug.s. Bakit ngayon may mura, it is because they copy the original and they don't need to research the molecule since nagawa na sya ng mga sinasabi na giant companies.But still, due to cheaper medicine bill, even local company are drastically affected.

    Hope Mar Roxas will address the issue of unemployment among pharma people , we also have parents and children to support.

    Thank you.

blog comments powered by Disqus