Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Medicines
Made by:
Reena Blaire Gonzaga
Martin Christian Ordonez
Owen Nolan Nueva
Chapter 1
introduction
BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
• Over the past years, medicines become a major contribution to the improvement of health status
of the patients. Medicines are currently used to treat stroke, cancer, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, arthritis
and many other diseases. Many forms of cancer that were fatal a decade ago have become curable
nowadays. Moreover, other fatal diseases have become manageable for many sufferers. However, these
branded medicines are not affordable and still protected with patents which will be expired in the next
decade. Due to the expiration of the patent of these medicines, these can be made available again but
produced in much cheaper aspect. The production of these new medicines is now called generic
medicines. Indeed, these medicines will undergo serious clinical testing before it can be produced in the
world market.
• According to the Population Commission (POPCOM), “there are 30.6 million Filipinos or 6.12
million families who are suffering from poverty and the population which is 87 million today grows 2.05
percent annually.” Moreover, most of the population is given a very low income per month. Through this,
many people can not afford to buy branded medicines which are so expensive in the Philippines
compared with other countries like India, Afghanistan, and Thailand. The drugs in the Philippines are so
expensive because the government has never been interested in developing a truly independent and
people oriented health care policy. Senator Mar Roxas saw this problem and decided to pass a Senate
Bill No. 1658 which aims to provide quality and affordable drugs. In fact, this Bill has been approved last
October 10, 2007 but until the present time, it is not yet implemented in the Philippines. With the condition
of the Philippines’ economy, people prefer to buy cheaper medicines. Moreover, the production of generic
medicines is indeed the only solution to the problem of the said country.
• There is really a need to conduct a study regarding this subject matter. On the other hand, this
paper focuses on the differences between generic and branded medicines so through this, people will
know if generic drugs are really the alternative solution for high prices of medicines in the Philippines.
Also, this paper discusses if there is really a need for the production of generic medicines in the
Philippines.
STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
• This study aims to answer the
following questions:
DISCUSSION
1.) What are generic medicines?
Are they effective?
• Generic medicines are drugs identical to branded drugs in dosage, form, safety, strength, quality,
characteristics and intended use. However, there are companies which produce illegal generic
drugs. The medicines are illegal because the Government’s standard was not able to achieve. Also,
these medicines are typically sold in a lower cost of price compared with branded medicines.
Moreover, this is the drug being produced when the patent of certain branded medicines expire.
Generic drugs are also distinguished as over the counter medicines. On the other hand, there are
only a few generic medicines that pass the Government’s standard. People believe that this is
becoming one of the cheapest drugs available to treat diseases or sickness.
• There are certain reasons why branded medicines are more expensive than generic
medicines. First, branded medicines are being produced by well known companies. Second, the said
companies have highly cost expenditure allotted for its advertisements. Third, the medicines are
being sold in monopoly basis and so without any competition, the company can sell its medicines at
any price. This shows that people are forced to buy those kinds of medicines because they have no
choice and there are no competing products. Lastly, the cost of medicines is being affected by taxes
given by the Government in certain products. All of the products in a certain country have additional
taxes to pay and this is the reason why the medicines become more expensive.
• There are several insights about generic medicines. In fact, some people said that the
quality of generic drugs is very low compared with branded drugs since these have lower cost of
price and through this price, it affects the quality of the said drugs. Others also said that it requires
a lot of product to take to be able to know if it is effective.
• Generic medicines are hailed as heroes, especially in most depressed areas, because it also
helps you in saving your money. Appropriate use of generic medicines can help to free up resources
for important new advances in medicines. Generic products account for less than 5 percent of drugs
and medicines sold in the country. And this state of affairs persists even in the face of
incontrovertible evidence that the prices of commonly used, branded medicines sold here can be as
much as 10 times higher than the same medicines sold in other Asian countries and, sometimes,
even higher than they are sold in industrial countries like the United States and Canada.
• The costs of these generic drugs are so low that many developing countries can easily afford. This
was developed especially on poor countries in order for the people to afford the price of the
medicines they needed.
2.)Are the medicines in the
•
Philippines very expensive?
The Philippines is, in fact, second to Japan in having the highest medicine prices in Asia. Medicines in the
Philippines are indeed expensive compared with neighboring countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
As a result three out of five Filipinos get sick without being able to see a doctor at all. In 2005, Filipinos
spending for medicines dropped by 2.2 percent while prices of medicines went up by 10 percent, according
to the PITC. According to the Philippine International Trading Corporation, the cost of medicine in the
country is higher by 40 percent to 180 percent than other Asian countries.
• The local price of the leading mefenamic acid product is P21.82 compared to P2.61 in India and P1.38 in
Pakistan. (Mefenamic acid under the brand name Ponstan costs P20.98 here, but only P2.80 in India and
P1.46 in Pakistan). A 5-mg anti-hypertensive pill costs P44.75 in the Philippines. In South Korea, the same
brand costs only P22.25, while in India and Thailand, the pill costs only P5.15 and P29.85, respectively. (An
anti-hypertensive pill under the brand name Norvasc costs P44.75 here, but only P6 in India). The top anti-
asthma drug sells for P406.75 while India and Thailand sells it for only P83.88 and P230.54, respectively.
While a drug against respiratory tract infection costs P17.75 while it only costs in P.51 in India and P4.63 in
Thailand. Zantac (150 mg) for hyperacidity, costs P33.02 in the Philippines and 82 centavos in India (40.3
times more expensive). Ponstan (500mg) for headache and body pain, costs P24.82 in the Philippines and
P3.22 in India (9.2 times more expensive). Plendil (5 mg) for high blood, costs P21.82 in the Philippines and
P2.69 in India (8.1 times more expensive). Norvasc (5 mg) for high blood, costs P39.07 in the Philippines and
P5.77 in India (6.8 times more expensive). Imdur (30 mg) for chest pains, P18.20 In the Philippines and
P3.72 in India (4.9 times more expensive). Ventolin (100 mcg) for asthma, costs P315 in the Philippines and
P126.78 in India (2.5 times more expensive).
• In further research, it shows that almost 72,000 Filipinos die annually because of heart disease. They die
because of lack of budget for their medicines. Pfizer sells a 10 mg. dose of Norvase for $1.50 (Pesos:
75.00) in the Philippines as against only $.18 in India. Norvase costs 700 percent more in the Philippines
than elsewhere. Pfizer has not even bothered to explain the enormous price difference between what it
sells in the Philippines and the very same product in other countries. It’s no wonder then that the
government is eager, even desperate, to import the drug. It is more expensive because it is being imported
from other countries to the Philippines. Medicines are expensive because successive governments have
never been interested in developing a truly independent and people-oriented health care policy, including
the development of a Filipino drug industry. Ownership and manufacture of drugs are controlled by
transnational oligopolies entrenching import-dependence, “their brand” mentality and sheer commodification
of a vital health and life support. Distribution is likewise cornered by a handful of Filipino businessmen.
Access to medicines has always been under the mercy of market economics dominated by foreign interests,
never in the interest of the Filipino.
Here is the price
list of branded
medicines being
sold by the
company Medi-Rx:
• Through this price list, we can 30
25
see how expensive the 20
Philippines
India
Generic medicines are cheaper that branded medicines. They are made to become
alternatives for branded medicines. Their quality and effectiveness is also the same as
the branded medicines. Their difference is just the standards. Branded medicines have
higher standards than the generic medicines. Branded medicines are very expensive
not because of the medicine but because of the name of the company that made it.
The effectiveness and quality of generic medicines also depend on the company that
made it. It also depends sometimes on the type of medicine itself. Some medicines are
really studied and understood only by the companies that make branded medicines. In
Philippines where poverty is everywhere, generic medicines are more preferred by the
people rather than the branded medicines. People just want to use medicines that have
the same effect but cheaper than branded medicines. Generic medicines are also
effective and can do the same thing that branded medicines do. People first consider
the price. If it is cheap, it is only the time that they’ll try its effectiveness and quality.
When it is cheap, it’s better. But some people buy generic medicines because of its
effectiveness. They see generic medicines as cheap version of branded medicines. If
all medicines will be this effective, it will really be a big help for many countries
especially in our country where poverty is very popular. Another reason why Philippines
need generic medicines is because of family budget. On a survey, the budget for
medicine is one of the lowest percentages in their budget. People don’t use money for
their medicine anymore that is why cheaper medicines are really needed here. Another
thing, the medicines in the Philippines are very expensive. People cannot afford to buy
medicines anymore. Philippines really need generic medicines in its poor status today.
RECOMMENDATION
• Generic medicines should be used by Philippines,
generic medicines that are really effective and
have high quality. It will really be a big help for
the Philippines if our country will have
alternatives like this. People should also realize
that even though generic medicines are cheap, it
is not harmful to our health and there are generic
medicines that are effective. People should learn
to be practical and contented. Filipinos should
give generic medicines a chance to prove its
effectiveness and quality. If consumers will not be
satisfied on its effects, then it’s the time to go for
the popular branded medicines.
THE RESEARCHERS