2 Davao hospitals to sell imported drugs

DAVAO CITY — Southern Mindanao residents can now avail themselves of quality medicines at affordable prices. Thanks to the departments of health and trade and industry which made the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City and the Davao Medical Center here the first recipients of government-imported cheap branded drugs from India.

Last Friday, Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez, along with Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Zenaida Maglaya, turned over several boxes of these drugs to Dr. Romulo Busuego, Davao Regional Hospital director.

The drugs, brought into the country through parallel importation, will reportedly give consumers price savings of as much as 400 percent compared to branded medicines.

To illustrate this, Romualdez cited Nifedipine (Adalat) capsules and Cotrimoxazole (Bactrim) tablets which cost P25.25 and P24.10, respectively. Their counterparts, to be sold in DOH hospitals, will cost only P4.54 and P4.73, respectively.

"We are doing this because providing quality but affordable health care services is one of the main components of the Health Sector Reform Agenda," he said.

Aside from the two Davao hospitals, the DOH will also make the medicines available in five other government hospitals and possibly, in barangay pharmacies throughout the country.

Comprising the first batch of medicines under the Presyong Tama, Gamot Pampamilya program are Ventolin, Bactrim, Zinetac, Augmentin, Daonil and Adalat Retard.

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has issued individual certificates of product registration to these drugs after they were subjected to tests. The first shipment arrived last week.

Maglaya said the manufacturers of these drugs have complied with product quality and efficacy standards.

The DOH launched the Presyong Tama program after noting that drugs sold in the country cost 40 to 70 more than those marketed in India, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Romualdez signed a memorandum of agreement with Busuego to guarantee the completion of the P19-million emergency room expansion of the Davao Regional Hospital.

Romualdez also led the groundbreaking of a satellite drug laboratory for Mindanao at the Tagum City Social and Development Center in Apokon, Davao del Norte.

Last Thursday, he also graced the groundbreaking of a similar facility for the Visayas at the Eversley Child Sanitarium compound in Jagobiao, Mandaue City, Cebu.

A P38-million budget has been allotted for these projects which are part of the BFAD’s program to beef up its operations. — Edith Regalado, Ella Oducayen