Press Release
February 20, 2009

ROXAS ON AFFORDABLE MEDS: LGUS SHOULD TAKE LEAD

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas urged anew local government units to take the lead in hastening the implementation of the new Quality and Affordable Medicines law for the benefit of their constituents.

This, as he remains unsatisfied with the national government's pace in implementing the landmark law, especially at this time of crisis when the sick are among the most vulnerable.

"Napakabigat sa loob ng gobyerno na ipatupad ang batas na ito. Kaya pangunahan na niyo ang pagpapatupad nito nang sa gayon ay mapakinabangan na ito ng ating mga kababayan (The government is dragging its feet in implementing this law. I call on you to take the lead in making sure that your constituents could immediately avail of quality and affordable medicines)," he told local leaders of Tanauan City in Batangas and Dagupan City in Pangasinan during separate medical missions there.

"Mahalaga ang abot-kayang serbisyong pangkalusugan. Dapat ipatupad agad ang batas, lalo na para sa ating mga lolo at lola na napakamahal ng mga iniinom na gamot. (We should prioritize affordable healthcare. The law should immediately be implemented, especially for our elderly whose maintenance drugs are very expensive)," he stressed.

The primary author of the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 said local governments should come to the rescue of the country's poor and elderly and take the lead by directly acquiring affordable medicines from abroad and putting up more Botika ng Bayan outlets in their jurisdictions.

"Kung rektang makakuha ng mga murang gamot ang ating mga LGUs, mas mabuti. Sa ganitong paraan, konting panahon lang ang hihintayin ng ating mga kababayan para makabili ng mga murang gamot (It would be better if LGUs directly acquire cheaper drugs from manufacturing firms. That way, the waiting period for our citizens would be shorter.)," Roxas stressed.

"Noong isang taon pa naipasa ito. Pebrero na. Hanggang ngayon, malambot pa talaga ang implementasyon ng ating gobyerno. Hindi lang mabigat ang paa nila; talagang parang naghahanap pa ng kung anu-anong dahilan para mapatigil ang tapat na implementasyon nito. (This was passed last year. It's February. They're not only dragging their feet; it's as if they are deliberately looking for reasons to not implement the law properly)," he said.

Roxas was in Tanauan City, Batangas on Thursday for a medical mission and forum on cheaper medicines. Another medical mission and forum was also held in Dagupan City in Pangasinan on Friday.

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