Mrs. Arroyo just signed Executive Order 821 mandating a 50% slash in 5 of about 22 medicines recommended by the DoH. Out of this list, pharma companies voluntarily submitted 16 medicines for a price cut by half. That's only 21. What was the drug that Mrs. Arroyo did not approve to be cut?
That's the problem here. Mrs. Arroyo said that she's protecting and taking care of the poor. Why settle for just 21 drugs when the Cheaper Medicines Law actually gives power to the government to slash all prices of medicines by more than half? The palace said, they're doing a balancing act. Why balance it when for many years these pharma companies have been raking profits after profits at the expense of the poor and sick Filipinos?
Also, what happened to the alleged bribery attempt by Pfizer Philippines? No probe? Not even a singular investigation? Senator Ponce-Enrile's accusation was very serious. Is Malacanang protecting its hide and those of giant pharmas? By the way, the E.O. takes effect on August 15 for big drug stores while smaller ones need to adjust their prices a full month after.
A week ago, Senator Mar Roxas reportedly called for an investigation into this. Today though, we did not hear anything about it. Is Roxas fidgeting? That supposed bribery incident is still fresh in the public's mind. Where's the supposed letter that the good senator submitted to the US State department to check on the record of Pfizer? And when is the Senate probe on this very crucial issue?
That's the BIG problem here. These politicians are just pulling our leg. A day after I asked my friends to give Mrs. Arroyo the benefit of the doubt, here comes this signing of an E.O. which, for all intents and purposes, is really a half-baked measure.
And here comes the author of the bill, spewing fire and brimstone after that supposed fidgeting incident by Arroyo and now, he fidgets as well? If you accuse someone of being "bribed" or "lobbied" by these giant pharma companies, then, the most logical thing for you to do is avoid being "bribed" or "lobbied" yourself. These trapos are playing the emotions of the people.
Mar Roxas should push ahead of his plan to get to the bottom of this bribery scandal and ensure that he prosecutes and files charges against those responsible for attempting to corrupt government officials. It's so easy to use an issue as a campaign platform but people expect their "champions" to back their words up with concrete actions.
We really need to get rid of these people and fast.
