DTI asks for review of drug price order

The Trade Department called for a review of Executive Order No. 104 which sets the maximum retail drug price before it is enforced by June this year.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the measure, which was approved in early 2020, was crafted before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, and had not considered the implications on the current health crisis.

“I haven’t reviewed the impact of COVID-19 on the EO.  I suggested that the Health Department may need to review the pros and cons given different situation now under COVID,” he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO 104 to effectively reduce the price of certain drugs and medicines by 58 percent. The measure covers 87 medicines or molecules and 133 combinations or preparations. These include medicines for diseases like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung diseases, renal disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis and major cancers.