Drug firm denies supplying substandard medicine

MANILA, Philippines - We write in reaction to the article entitled ‘Cheaper Medicine Act reduced drug prices” written by a certain Aurea Calica in the Feb. 24, 2010 issue of your newspaper, particularly on Page 4 thereof. In this article, Sen. Manuel Roxas II was quoted as saying that our company Phil. Pharmawealth Inc. was a supplier of cheap but substandard medicine to government agencies allegedly as shown by the records of the Department of Health (DOH). The article went on to cite an alleged incident at the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Bohol relating to the use of drug products supplied by our company.

We wish to state for the record that no less than the DOH had cleared our company’s products of any culpability in the event that occurred at that medical institution. Our drug products were duly tested and thereafter found to be in accordance with the required specifications set forth in that hospital’s procurement. The allegations contained in that article attributed to Senator Roxas have no basis whatsoever.

As to the other claims and assertions of Senator Roxas relating to his participation in crafting the final version of the Cheaper Medicines Act, suffice it to say that this being election season, verity or truth usually is the first casualty. The proceedings and minutes of the Congressional Committee meetings, on the Cheaper Medicines Bill, are public records, thus open and available for anyone’s scrutiny, from whence one can judge as to who is telling the truth. After having almost single-handedly emasculated the vital and most salient provisions of the Cheapter Medicines Act, Senator Roxas now apparently feels the need to gain media mileage to further catch public attention and sustain his bid for the Vice-Presidency.

Notwithstanding Senator Roxas’ unfounded accusations, as what was recently published in your paper, our company remains committed to bringing quality but cost-effective healthcare to as many of our countrymen as possible.

We trust that our side will find equal space in your newspaper. — Atty. ALLAN A.B. ALAMBRA, vice president, Phil. Pharmawealth, Inc.