Pfizer

In the Philippines, where the fight for cheaper medicines is being waged against multinational pharmaceutical giants, a huge development concerning bribery and the highest government position in the land has exploded. Last Monday, lawmakers in the country accused Pfizer Philippines, a multinational drug company, of attempting to bribe no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. This was done through the Department of Health (DoH) with five million “sulit (discount) cards” to be distributed to indigent patients all over the country.

This was immediately denied by the Executive Director of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) Reiner Gloor, who claimed that Pfizer’s offer was not a bribe. PHAP serves as an umbrella organization of 50 multinational drug companies in the country.

Senator Juan Ponce Enrile

Lawmakers surmised that the attempted bribery had the objective of convincing President Arroyo to turn down and not sign an executive order that will cut various drug prices in half. This was the belief of Senator Juan Ponce Enrile too, as he stated, “The fact is the [cheaper medicines] law was passed by Congress. For somebody to offer (the cards that) is already an indication that the purpose of the offer is to stop … impede the enforcement of the law. I will tell you as a lawyer … that is as an offer of bribe.”

Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo apparently gave leeway to big pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer. She offered a 10-day deadline for these companies to offer alternatives to the implementation of the MRP because she believed that there are other means to offer lower priced medicines to the public without harming business. Thus, lawmakers could not help but raise an eyebrow on such an attempt by Pfizer during this 10-day reprieve.

Regardless, reports indicate that the Pfizer’s offer was not accepted by the President nor by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

About the law that would cut medicine prices in half

The implementation of the maximum retail price (MRP) for various maintenance medicines such as Norvasc (for hypertension), Diamicron (diabetes), and Lipitor (for high cholesterol) would mean huge savings, especially for impoverished Filipino families. For example, the price of Norvasc (5 mg) would drop from P44.50 to P22.50. Interestingly enough, the price of Norvasc in India is P7, a clear indication that medicine prices in the Philippines are high compared to that in other countries.

The price of Lipitor (10 mg), on the other hand, would drop from P62.50 to P31.25. The price of Diamicron (80 mg) would also be cut in half, from P14.75 to P7.35.

The overpricing of various medicines instituted by multinational drug companies have given rise to generic medicine providers, such as “The Generics Pharmacy”, which have made big business in the Philippines. So big that the company has decided to offer its retail outlets as franchises to willing investors.

Senator Mar Roxas

Criticizing the President

Senator Mar Roxas was foremost to point out the inadequacy of President Arroyo. “The point is until now the President has not signed the executive order. When will she fulfill her promise to lower drug prices?” said Roxas. “The lives of the people are at stake, not politics. You only need a ballpen, Mrs. President (to sign the executive order).”

Do you agree with the claims of the senators that Pfizer indeed bribed President Arroyo? What must be done to finally lower the prices of these important maintenance medicines?