Naintindihan ko ang posisyon ng Philippine Medical Association, ang organisasyon ng mga doctor sa Pilipinas, sa kanilang protesta sa probisyon sa House Bill 2844 , ang bersyon ng mababang kapulungan sa Cheaper Medicines bill kung saan hindi lamang na required ang mga doctor sulatin ang generic name ng gamot kung di pinagbabawal ang pagreseta ng mga doctor ng brand ng gamot.
Ang bersyon ng Senado na sinusulong ni Sen. Mar Roxas ay walang ganoong probisyon.
Sinusuportahan ng Head Alliance for Democracy and posisyon ng mga doctor.
Tama lang na isulat ng mga doctor ang gerneric name ng gamot ay yan ay matagal nang ginagawa ng mga doctor ngunit dapat hindi sila pagbabawalan isulat ang alam nilang mas angkop na brand name ng isang gamot sa sakit ng pasyente kasi kahit parehong ang pinagmulan, hindi eksaktong pareho ang lahat na gamot. Yan ay dahilan na hindi masyadong naayos ang Bureau of Food and Drug Industry ang regulasyon ng mga gamot.
Ikuwento ko sa inyo ang personal na experience ko sa generic drugs:
Noong magsisimula na ako ng chemotherapy sa aking sakit na ovarian cancer, neresetahan ako ng aking doctor ng gamot. Hindi ko masyadong natandaan ang buong pangalan ngunit may salitang “paclitaxel”. Nasa Philippine General Hospital ako naka-confine.
Binigyan ko ng P10,000 ang aming katulong para bilhin ang gamot. Bumalik siya na walang dalang gamot. Kulang raw ang pera dahil P29,000 ang isang gamot. Nanlambot ako ngunit nakahanap ng paraan at nabili naman ang gamot.
Nang ibinigay ko sa aking oncologist ang gamot, sabi niya, “Naku, hindi ito ang ginagamit kong gamot. Galing sa India ito at hindi tayo sigurado nito. ‘Taxol’ dapat ang gagamitin natin.”
Tinanggap naman ng botika nang ibinalik namin ang gamot at bumili kami ng Taxol na mas mahal – P45,000 ang bawat isa. (Anim na beses ang aking chemotherapy. Kaya isipin mo na lang kung gaano kamahal magkasakit ng kanser! Isang gamot lang yan.)
Sa awa ng Diyos, gumaling naman ako.
May isang beses rin naman, dadalawang linggo na ang aking pag-iinom ng antibiotic para sa asthma ngunit hindi masyadong naa-alis. Kailangan palitan ng doctor ng ibang klaseng brand ngunit parehong laban sa asthma. Kasi kahit pareho ang marami sa ingredient sa gamot may kaunting pag-iiba ang bawat gamot.
Tama ang sabi ni Sen. Pia Cayetano na ang pagsingit ng provision na ipinagbabawal ang pagsulat ng brand name ay parang nagsasabi ng lahat na mga doctor ay kasabwat ng mga drug companies na kwartahan ang mga pasyente.
Totoong meron doctor na ganun ngunit hindi lahat. Bahala maghanap ang pasyente ng doktor na kanilang pinagkakatiwalaan. Ngunit hindi maa-aring talian ang kamay ng mga doktor sa kanilang paggagamot.
Kasi kung pangangawarta ang ating isipin, siguro ang sumingit din ng probisyon na yun, baka kikita rin sa manufacturer ng generics na gamot.
Ito namang si Sen. Roxas, gagawa lang ng bill eh di pa kinumpleto ang mga dapat na probisyon, ano ba yan Korina?
Nagaambisyon ka pa namang maging Pangulo ng Pinas eh half-bake naman kung dumiskarte ka, baka naman kung maupo ka sa Palasyo eh ibibitin mo rin ang sambayanang Pinoy.
Paki-ayos naman sa susunod kung mayroong kayong gustong isabatas at wag butas-butas para wala nang usapan pa at 100% ang batas. Kayo talaga, gusto nýo palaging pinag-uusapan ng Masa at gusto nýo uling e drag ang mga butihin nating journalist, huwag naman kasi di pa tapos ang kanilang laban.
My personal opinion regarding this matter, welcome ang housebill 2844 para maging mura ang presyo ng gamot at paki naman sa mga drug manufacturers at doctors, isipin nýo naman ang kapakanan ng mga mahihirap kasi po nakakaraos naman kayo sa buhay.
Ang murang gamot ang sagot sa kamatayan ng mahihirap na Pinoy! Ang daming mura sa India….dekalidad pa!
Kagaguhan iyang pagbabawal sa mga doktor na magreseta ng mga brand na gamot.
Bakit tatalian ang kamay ng mga doktor sa pagrereseta ng mas epektibong may brand na gamot, e kaya nga tayo nireresetahan ng tamang gamot ay para gumaling.
Merong generics at brand names medicine na halos magkapareho ang epek sa katawan, pero pagdating sa maseselang
karamdaman, we pay for the more effective pills. E di bahalang mag-usap ang doktor at pasiente, ‘yan ang tama. Hindi iyong pati iyong gamot sa maysakit ay ididikta pa ng Tongresso!
Pumunta lang si Gloria d’Corrupt sa India ay meron nang ipinipilit na ganitong probisyon ang tongresso sa atin.
OK lang na magpasa sila ng bill na ito pero huwag nilang pangunahan ang mga “tunay’ na doktor!
Noong kami ay papunta pa lang sa India (1998), ang kaibigan namin na pinay na nurse na asawa ng doktor ng prime minister ay sinabihan kami na magdala ng gamot para hindi na bibili sa India.
Tanong ko ay bakit, para raw makasiguro dahil murang-mura nga ang mga gamot sa India pero hindi ka-epektibo ng aming inaaasahan. Tigas ang ulo, hindi kami nagdala. Pagdating dun ay niresetahan kami ng doktor ng gamot…brand name din.
Walang kwenta ang cheaper medicine bill kung ganyan lang ang mga probisyon.
Ang magaling at dapat nilang pagtuunan ng pansin at execution ay ang karapatan ng lahat ng maysakit na mahihirap na tanggapin at gamutin sa lahat ng hospital ng walang deposit money, at kung maaari ay konti lang ang babayaran.
Magagawa iyan sa Pinas, tulad sa ibang bansa, kung hindi koraps ang mga namumuno at ang mga puso ay nasa tamang lugar!
Hay naku Chi, ginagawang big deal ng mga Tongresman natin ang issue para lang maging mura ang presyo ng anumang gamot.
Ang gamot bow! Halos everyday ang kahalo-bilo ko eh mga doctors in different field at ofcourse mayroon tayong interaction sa kanila, so i observed especially sa Pinas eh ginawang mangmang ng mga matatalino ang Masang Pinoy.
Simple arithmithic lang po, yang GENERIC NAME eh substance yan ng isang uri ng gamot to treat patient(s) at ang Brand name naman eh yong particular drug manufacturer(s) who produced and/or developed that medicine.
Ang bottom line na dapat isinabatas ng mga Mambabatas eh maging mura ang presyo ng ano mang uri ng gamot, ang kaso mayroon pong drugs na the same generic name but produced by different drug manufacturers so the only differences of these medicine ang brand name and its price.
Ito ngayon ang strategy ng mga duktor, syiempre yong branded and known drug ang e prescribe nila, if the patient knows other brand name with the same generic name pwedeng gamitin yan, why not? Prove ko ito especially statins lowering drugs, kasi nasobra sa tsibog kaya heto naresitahan tuloy.
Ang pagkakaiba lamang eh nagkakatalo sa presyo at sa gumawa ng gamot. Pero halos the same naman ang epekto nito sa maysakit.
So, ang generic name will use only to know who produced that medicine and country of origin. Kung saan makakamura eh malaking tulong ito sa Masang Pilipino pati na yong mga rich.
Refreshing muna tayo, one example: Atorvastatin calcium tablets are currently marketed by Pfizer under the trade name Lipitor, in tablets (10, 20, 40 or 80 mg) for oral administration. Tablets are white, elliptical, and film coated. In some countries it may also be known as: Sortis, Torvast, Torvacard, Totalip, Tulip, Xarator, Atorpic, or Liprimar.
Kita nýo pwede pala tayong bumili ng Atorvastatin calcium (generic name) in any of these available branded name with the same therapeutic indications.
Kaya po DOC at Tongresman eh wag nýo nang pagtalunan yan at nililito nýo lang ang taong-bayan, in short maging maka-Masa naman kayo.
Mga DOCs ipa isplika nýo naman nang maayos sa mga Mahihirap ang kabutihan ng generic drugs at wag naman maging gahaman sa mga iniindorse nýong gamot o drug manufacturer(s), we know po na kumikita kayo sa kanila. Maawa naman kayo sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan na walang perang ipangbili ng gamot.
Chi pahabol, naalala ko nga pala na kaya worried ang mga Doctors sa Pinas eh baka may bogus na gamot na makapasok sa mga pharmacy at ibenta sa pasyente.
Nangyari yan a few years ago sa Pinas na akalain mo eh yong antibiotic kuno eh gawa lang sa tabi-tabi at di ba nasakote yong mga kawatang Pinoy.
Nagsisiguro po lamang ang mga Duktor na geniune ang gamot at di peke ito. Mahirap nang ipagsapalaran ang buhay ng mga pasyente kung ang mabili o resetang gamot eh peke pala.
Walang problema kung ang mga Duktor eh magreseta ng branded na gamot pero dapat inform the patient na mayroong ibang brand na the same generic name para makamura naman ito.
Ang DOH naman eh gampanan ng trabaho to educate the public at magkaroon ng dissimination campaign para maging aware ang publiko.
Ang kaso WALA lang, bahala tayo sa ating buhay…minsan nga eh may patalastas yong isang Senador natin na BAWAL DAW MAGKASAKIT! Yaks kita nýo isa pa yang duktor pero walang guts o malasakit sa kapwa-Pinoy.
Sa halip na sila ang mag-educate sa publiko eh sabihin ba naman na Bawal ang Magkasakit!
Balweg,
OK ang explain mo a! Ako ay tiwalang-tiwala sa doktor ko. Kapag sinabi na bumili ako sa over the counter dahil mura at pareho naman ang effectiveness ay Oo ako. Kapag sinabi niya na mahal ito dahil branded, pero ito ang kailangan mo, sunod ako.
Tama ka, ang dapat asikasuhin nila ay ang pagbaba ng presyo ng gamot in general, sobrang mahal sa Pinas. Pati nga vitamins e.
What’s the difference between brand name Bayer aspirin and generic aspirin? Acetylsalicylic acid is the chemical name for aspirin. Generic equivalent has the same potential benefits compared to other brand names.
Palagay ko sa dosage lang siguro nagkatalo. Kung mahal ang brand name na gamot may isang pang alternatibo, iyong herbal medicine ni ambularyong Mang Kepweng.
Tumpak ka DKG nadali mo araw na araw! Marami sa mga Kababayan nating mahihirap ang nagkakasya na lamang sa herbal medicine kasi walang perang ipangbili, but you know na ang mga rich eh gumagamit din ng herbal medicine )(ex. GNC product; For Everliving; Good ‘n Natural; Gano Excel and others)but di kaya ng bulsa ng mahihirap.
Kung di ka makatulog at may insomia ka eh magtake ka ng Melatonin 3mg. every nite for sure solve ang iyong problema.
All drugs undergo research and testing under strict regulators mostly of the US and European nations, where most researches are funded by big private foundations. Early tests are conducted mostly in Third World countries, ours included. You’d wonder why these large pharma firms employ highly-paid researchers when they don’t even invent these drugs here. They are part of a global pursuit of a drug company to come up with a new drugs. It would be easier to conceal when the firms foul up with their guinea pigs.
Final clinical trials are conducted and announced only after results from 3rd World guinea pigs are found promising. At this point, most of these companies heavily publicize their achievements resulting in a spike in their stock market prices. Those undertaken by new ones, launch their IPO at New York’s NASDAQ, usually welcomed by traders with fireworks. Thereafter, the generic name is approved by the US FDA and the Patent Office approves a brand name. Much earlier, Intellectual Property Rights have been applied for while research is ongoing.
In this set-up, I don’t find it possible that 2 different manufacturers of the same drug can have different versions of a generic-named drug. First, “harvesting” the ingredients entail a very intricate procedure both from organic and inorganic sources. Second, laboratory procedures in creating the mixture are pretty much standard. What differs is how efficient one company does its reasearch, testing, and later, mass-production, thus giving one company advantage over the other at the bottom line.
This explains why, for example, Norvasc, sells in the Philippines for P44.75 while it is only about P5 in India. Both are manufactured by Pfizer. And I don’t think the Indian-made drug is less potent than the local one. Meanwhile, the only available competitor, Amvasc, made by Therapharma, a division of Pinoy-owned Unilab, is priced at P17.50 per 5mg of the same anti-hypertension treatment.
The P45,000 tag for Ellen’s treatment may have its real value at around the price of the Indian version. I don’t believe India will allow its citizens to buy a less expensive drug (P29,000 isn’t cheap even by Indian standards!) without getting the desired results. I can’t say the same of the Philippines though.
Ang tanong ko: paano na lang ang mga taong na hindi kaya ang bumili ng gamot? hayaan na lang mamatay? kung sabagay mas complicated ang mga sakit ngayon..noong araw dahil sa mahirap ang mga tao simple lang ang mga sakit na alam…sakit ulo, sakit ng tiyan, kinagat ng ahas, etc. and people used natural medicine…buyo (ikmo), dahon ng bayabas, at yong mga kahoy kahoy na binibinta pag martes (market day) galing sa bundok at nakakaraos din..is the death rate now lower because of hi-tech equioments and medicine? who can afford to stay at Asian Hospital and for that matter yong galing sa malalayo…gawawa nga..
isa pa nga tanong: dito sa US may Medicare and Medicaid na tinatawag para sa mga Senior Citizens..mayroon bang ganyan sa atin..kadalasan nga dito kung hindi mo kaya ang magpagamot at wala kang medicare..through the medicaid program ng gobierno..I have elderly friends na TNT nga but when they got sick they were helped na walang bayad..sana tinutulungan din ng gobierno ang mahihirap sa atin..sana nga.
sorry folks..wroong spellings above..hi-tech equipments
gawawa..I meant kawawa
meron na talagang lobby to make generics look inferior.
nandyan na yang may umiinom daw ng generics na di naman sing-bisa ng branded. hello? halimbawa nga nung isang post sa itaas, there is no difference between a generic name and a brand name of the same generic drug
nililito ng big pharma lobby ang issue. akala tuloy ng nakararami, magkaiba ang Bayer aspirin at generic aspirin. worse, baka nga akala pa ang nakararami, ang generic ay ibang-iba sa branded (like Bayer aspirin ang branded, pero ang generic ay hindi aspirin)
sorry to say this, but i hope PMA doctors who have been benefited by sponsorships by big pharma for the past decades should keep their mouth shut in this issue
In the first place, the cheaper medicine bill is just another effort of political whim. Lets come down to earth! What goods and services that did not grow expensive in a span of 20 years? The price of medicine even fakes will go up anyway. What price of goods remain stagnant in the decade of our lives and even the dead? Whenever there is a tectonic rumbling in the U.S. dollar or the OPEC oil, everything at the NYSE, change the color of money any minute. Likewise at the gas stations here and even the school baons in any second. The appropriate move is for the government to acknowledge the worth of quacks and the mumbo jumbos before going to the doctor. Sometimes its free or cheaper than generics. Priest healers only accept donations like government doctors at the centers. But if they insist on the generics or branded medicines, let the pork barrels take care half of the cost each time a citizen buys at the drug store.
In Q1 of 2004, we were closely following the stock price of Mannatech, a wellness and nutrient provider which was then a fast-rising star. (The price shot $3 to $14 on no news at all!) I asked for analysis from the guys upstairs and they did due diligence so by H2 2004, we recommended a buy while the stock was at $10.
The MLM company handled its PR very well, slowly built its reputation and was named #5 of the Top 100 Small Companies by Forbes nagazine. It made more than $400M based on media hype alone. It was granted a patent for its glyconutrient product shortly and the stock went to as high as $26 by Feb 2005 but we stepped out at $22 – more than double the investment! Later, charges of fraud, like what all pyramid schemes have faced, and other class suits involving its officers, doused the euphoria over the stock so it remained at about $5 since then.
What does this story tell us? Pharmaceutical fortunes are made not from simply treating diseases. PR, with the accompanying scientific drivel, let alone contradictory claims within the same industry, manipulative schemes and fraud, are all directed at profit, and nothing more.
At the present times, pharmacy could no longer be confined to practical chemistry alone.
It should be a marriage of science and conscience.
Tongue: profit indeed is the pnly goal of these big pharmaceutical firms..and not to cure..bakit ba kailangan ng PR to promote a product? The more they spend for these promotions the less their profits will be kaya mataas ang precio ng producto..at kung mahusay talaga at nakakamot pikit matang bibilhin ng may sakit sa takot na pipikit na talaga ang mata niya ng permanente..at mag rest in peace na..conscience is not in the vocabulary of many.. at maraming wala nito..malungkot!
marami ngayon lumalabas na herbal medicines…mangosteen, noni juice, malunggay, ampalaya tea, etc. at maraming bumibili..and are medicinal…but hindi ba ang mga medicines processed by big pharmaceutical firms ay galing din sa mga tanim..ngayon cholesterol conscious ang mga tao..pero dati naman sinasabi sa atin na hindi nakakatulong sa ating katawan ang taba ng baboy at ang kumain ng laging karne..hindi ba..Salamat nalang mahal ang precio ng karne..ang sabi noon sa amin sa probinsiya “eat green leafy vegetables” thus we got used to eating them..mahal ang soda kaya tubig..mahal ang kendi kaya camote at saging ang merienda..
With the indulgence of everyone, may I share this one para lalong sumigla kayong lahat:
Kung Pinoy si Noah….
…Ganito ang mangyayari sa barko. Read along…
Taong 2007 at isang ordinaryong middle class Pinoy si Noah. Nagpakita sa kanya ang Diyos at sinabing ‘Pagkatapos ng isang taon ay bubuhos ang
ulan at babahain ang buong kapuluan ng Pilipinas. Gusto kong gumawa ka ng isang malaking arko at isakay mo rito ang pares-pares na mga hayop at mga mag-asawang pilipino sa iba’t ibang kapuluan.’
Ibinigay kay Noah ang ‘specs’ ng arko at taos puso nitong tinanggap ang responsibilidad na sagipin ang sambayanang Pilipino sa napipintong pagbaha.
Lumipas ang taon, muling nagpakita ang Diyos kay Noah. Walang arkong nagawa si Noah at galit na galit siyang tinanong ng Diyos,
‘Nasaan ang arko na ipinagawa ko sa iyo? ‘Tumugon si Noah,’Patawarin po ninyo ako kung di po natupad ang utos ninyo! Nagkaroon po ng malaking problema sa plano po ninyo.’
At inilahad ni Noah ang mga sagabal na nakaharap niya sa pag-gawa ng arko.
Humingi siya ng Mayor’s permit pero papayag lang daw si Mayor kung ang gagawa ng arko ay ang construction firm ng kanyang pamangkin. Tumungo siya sa Congressman pero papayag lang daw si Congressman kung may matatanggap siyang 30% commission. Nagtayo ng unyon ang mga kinuha niyang manggagawa at nag-strike.
Natunugan ng mga left-leaning groups ang kanyang balak at ang mga ito ay nag-rally dahil daw sa hindi makatarungang pagpili ng mga taong sasakay sa arko (mga taong naniniwala lang sa Diyos ang pwedeng sumakay). Nakisali sa rally ang mga bakla at tomboy dahil bias daw na normal na mag-asawa lang ang pwedeng sumakay.
Ang civil society group ay nakisali na rin sa gulo dahil napag-alaman daw nila na ang pondong gagamitin sa paggawa ng arko ay galing sa donasyon ng mga gambling lords at katas ng jueteng
Sa kaguluhang ito ay napilitang magpatawag ng hearing ang senado ‘in aid of legislation’.
Sinubukan ni Noah na gamitin ang EO 464 para makaiwas sa hearing pero dahil hindi sya executive official, napilitan siyang tumistigo.
Nang malaman ng senado na utos ng Diyos ang pagpapagawa ng arko, dineklara nila itong unconstitutional dahil hindi raw nito iginalang ang separation ng church at state .
Nakialam na rin ang NBI at PNP at sinabi nilang meron silang impormasyon na ang barko
raw na ito ay gagamitin ni Erap sa kanyang pagtakas. Sinabi naman ng ISAFP at DOJ na ito raw ay gagamitin ng grupong Magdalo sa binabalak nilang coup laban kay Arroyo. Nilapitan ni Noah si Mike Defensor para makipag-usap kay GMA. Payag daw si GMA na ituloy ang arko kung ipapaskil daw sa arko ang malaking mukha ni Arroyo na may slogan ‘Towards a Strong Republic’. ‘Hindi po ako pumayag kaya hanggang ngayon po ay may TRO ang pag-gawa ng arko.
Sa palagay ko po kailangan ko pa ng 10 taon para matapos ang inyong proyekto’. Ang huling wika ni Noah. Napa-iling ang Diyos at sinabing, ‘Di ko na kailangang wasakin pa ang bansang ito. Hayaan ko na lang kayong sumira nito.’
Tama ka rose, sa gobyerno nga, nawala na yata ang konsensiya. Pera at kapangyarihan ang dahilan. But what I find puzzling are recent studies in the US that say animal fat are not really harmful in fact, they now say that it is more beneficial than what its presumed ill effects could produce.
They now say that after the 70’s and 80’s studies that pointed to animal fat as the biggest contributor to strokes and heart attacks, the actual figures say otherwise. Doctors’ life expectancy for example, have been reduced phenomenally as compared to other professions. They pointed out that the low-salt, low-fat diet is basically the only difference in lifestyles that doctors in general have taken up differently from previous decades.
I don’t know about medicine, but for me, it’s not an exact science as what maybe engineering is. Malakas pa rin ang tsambahan sa medicine. They haven’t even developed a cure for the most common ailment: colds.
Tongue: my cure for cold:
I drink a lot of liquid and rest; or take a glass of orange juice and vodka and sleep..pag gising ko wala na ang colds ko..this is very effective and proven sa akin..noong hindi ko pa kilala ang orange juice..calamansi juice is what we used at mas mura ang calamansi..at kung may tanim ang kapit bahay mo sa bakuran niya manghingi ka na lang..
on herbal medicine: Ellen wrote an article on lemon grass and cancer..ang tawag sa amin sa lemon grass ay tanglad..and kinukuha lang sa bakuran..since I read Ellen’s article I have been using “tanglad” tea..medio mahal nga lang one stalk costs 50 cents..where before walang bayad…
Hahaha… Hatsing!
You will understand the racket of the pharmaceutical industry, etc. by watching such movies as the “Constant Gardener” which won Rachel Weis an Oscar.
I, myself, was a victim of such connivance I guess between those in authorities and people in the medical field. But at least, over in the Land of the Rising Sun, we have ways and means to seek redress for grievances, especially against such connivance and even deliberate neglect on the part of people we elect and help place in positions where we think cthey can serve us.
In 1970, I got so sick that I was hospitalized for 3 to 4 months. It all just started with a simple cold that I thought could be cured with some on the counter pill or tablet. A class suit was initiated but I did not join it because I did not have any permanent disability except for that long confinement in the hospital. It was victory, and the victims were granted compensation for what they had suffered. I was surprised when I got a call from our Ministry of Health telling me to file my claim so I could get my share before the limit. I did.
Aside from the lump sum, I have received a monthly renumeration enough for me to enjoy life until I die aside from the pension that I expect to receive when I reach 65.
Now, are these crooks favoring their fellow crooks willing to bear the burden of responsibility when this kind of unfair and heavenly uninspired ruling when passed and implemented fails to prove beneficial to many especially the poor who cannot avail of any medical aid and care? I doubt!
reality rose, you can have relief for cold, but it will get cured by itself, but there are a lot of preventive measures to avoid catching cold..that is the best option..
generic drug is the most preferred option here unless a Doctor noted in her/her prescription NO SUBSTITUTION, in that case the Pharmacist will dipense only the RX brand..most medications are covered by the Government drug plans or by employers extended care insurance..
Rose,
I also avoid taking in medicine even when I am very sick, not even those prescribed by my doctor. Nadala na kasi ako.
I always make sure to go back to the doctor when his prescription does not take effect overnight, and ask for a better one. And you bet, rest and sleep help a lot, plus of course, a balance meal.
Oftentimes, I try to remember my own mother’s home remedy that was safer and more effective, arbularyo style sa totoo lang.
Here are some of the best kept secrets of multi-national drug and pharmaceutical firms in the Philippines on why the costs of medicines are so expensive and hardly affordable.
I know where I am coming from and I also know that what I am going to say are part of the industry’s trade secrets and I may also be guilty of professional misconduct or ethics, but I just want to give a bird’s eye view on the what and whys on the costs of the product.
Back then I worked as an Accountant in a big multi-national firm with offices here in New York, in Paris, Switzerland and Germany. And here’s how they do business:
Offices abroad act as agents and being paid a 5 to 10% commission on ALL purchases and shipments to the Philippine office. As agents they put a mark-up on top of the purchase price of all shipments. A single shipment runs to thousands of US dollars. After commission, comes the consulting or professional fee which also in the 5 to 10% on the same shipments and on the same terms. But the best part of the business is they don’t bring in their own money for the operation. Philippine banks finance the operation thru business loans. Para tayong ginigisa sa sariling mantika. Ginagamit ang perang Pilipino para magbusiness walang dollars na dumadating pero marami ang lumalabas bayad sa commissions and professional fees.
The mark-ups, commissions and professional fees which run to hundreds of thousand in US dollars added to the cost of importation and manufacture of the product are some of the biggest expense factored into the cost.
I felt really so bad every time I do the calculations and the remittances but I can’t help it. If you are a little weak, maybe you can not stomach, but its part of the job and that is what I do for a living. Right then I realized that third world countries like the Philippines are helpless on the onslaught of these multi-nationals who have grown so big at the expense of poor countries, and there’s no end in sight. Maybe as gloria said when we attain her enchanted dream of becoming a first world, we will be set free from the stranglehold of these multi-nationals.
i have seen first hand kung papaano at bakit MAHAL ang gamot sa pilipinas kasi may kilala ako dati na ahente ng gamot :
1) ang bawat duktor ay suportado ng mga drug companies. ipinadadala nila ang mga duktor (kasama ang kanilang pamilya) na na-sponsor nila sa ibat ibang byahe sa loob at labas ng bansa.
2) ang bawat duktor na sinusuportahan ng drug companies ay may naka-assign na medical representative – a fancy word sa mamahaling katulong. ang mga med rep na ito ay kumpleto sa gamit – KOTSE, LATEST CELFONES, MALAKING PERANG PANG “REPRESENTATION” – meaning pakakainin lagi ang mga duktor sampu ng kanilang mga kamag anak at pamilhya (may budget na approx P20,000 per 2 weeks ang bawat med rep na nakatutok sa vip na duktor). nakatutok sila sa lahat ng pangangailangan ng duktor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. note : bibihira lamang mag call sa mga botika ang mga med rep.
3) di mabilang na giveaways – ang bawat duktor ay patuloy na inuulan ng giveaways – from presecription pads to COMPUTERS, to CELL FONES (lalo na kung VIP na espesyalista ang duktor). pati nga ako nabibigyan dati ng kakilala kong med rep. halos mapuno bahay ko sa mga giveaways.
4) Idagdag mo pa ang manufacturing, distribution, research and importation costs ng gamot….
sa lahat ng aking nailahad at nasaksihan – MAGTATAKA KA PA BA KUNG BAKIT MAHAL ANG GAMOT?
MEDIA should look into how much drug companies spends on each doctor….and they will surely be shocked…..
heres a tip….start with GLAXO
other thoughts…
ilang duktor ang kilala nyong nagbabyad ng buwis? o nag iisue ng resibo?
sa tinagal tagal kong nag kokonsulta sa duktor – WALA PA….
siguro dapat ding tutukan ito ng MEDIA….
hindi kawawang tao ang mga duktor – P500 na consultation fee sa bawat pasyents, walang resibo at hindi nagbabayad ng buwis…..
Para makaiwas sa sobrang kamahalan ng gamot, tama, magalbularyo na lang at gumamit ng herbal medicine. Sa totoo lang ang mga home remedies ay mabisa at mura. I am not a believer in western medicine. May konting sakit lang ng ulo medisina agad. For as long as one maintains good diet, cleanliness and good health habits(excercise and sleep and avoid stress), chances are malayo ang sakit. Para sa maseselang sakit talaga katulad ng kanser, may mga hindi branded na medisina na under research pa lang but very potent na. Tama si Toungue, tayo sa Pilipinas ay isa lamang sa mga bansang ginagamit ng mga multi-national companies na guinea pigs. Kapag walang naireport na side effects tsaka pa lang nila ididistribute sa kani-kanilang mga bansa and at that time it becomes branded.
Tama rin si Happy Gilmore na ang “perks” sa mga doctor and malaking halagang naipapatong sa presyo ng drugs.
I do not want pharmaceutical drugs to be legislated. If the government is dead serious in protecting our interest, they should regulate the entry of inferior medicine in our country ,foremost!The government should have a hand in advicing the citizenry of the availability of affordable generic drugs but will not necessarily recommend specific brands. Doctors have their own way of determining which drug works for certain cases, the legislators should not meddle in their choices. If the patient can afford the more expensive and branded medicines, so be it. The legistrators should pay attention foremost on the drugs they are acquiring and giving out to indigents as these are acquired at a higher price and some of them may even have expired already and yet bought at very high prices! I watched several documentaries where government acquqired drugs were found in big volumes in warehouses and they were expired. Somebody made a bundle on those acquisitions. That should be the aspect of medicine these legislators should look into instead of across the board regulating what a doctor can or can not prescribe. Tama na ang pangongotong ninyo mga tongressman at senatongs!
With the passage of the cheaper medicine bill, a few of the pharmaceutical companies lobbying for their products will make a bundle of money and the sponsors of the bill in congress will make a bundle as well. Ang nawalan, si Juan de la Cruz ,as usual. You are not doctors! Give the doctor and the patient the choice and do not impose on them!
RE: sa lahat ng aking nailahad at nasaksihan – MAGTATAKA KA PA BA KUNG BAKIT MAHAL ANG GAMOT?
HINDI HG, walang dapat ipagtaka kasi nga ito ang kalakaran sa Pinas. Kung gusto ng gobyerno thru rubber stamp Congress eh panahon pa ni Sabel eh dapat health baby ang mga Pinoy, but in reality controlado ng iilang makapangyarihan sa bansa ang industriya ng gamot.
Bakit ngayon lang ito isinabatas at heto palpak pa kasi nga maraming butas ang inihaing batas ng Kongreso kulang kasi sa padulas ang mga drug manufacturers.
Humirit naman itong si Sen. Roxas incomplete din ata ang provisions ng kanyang panukalang batas, paano yan baka bungal din ang ngipin at walang mangyari sa mga ito.
Paki ayos naman kung magsisigawa kayo ng mga panukalang batas para wala nang pagtatalo pa, sayang ang ibinabayad sa inyo ng sambayanang Pilipino.
Good news, people. Ang presyo ng formalin ay di tumataas. Kaya magimbak na lang para sa huling hantungan. Its better pag nag-expire. Sigurado. But watch out if the fish vendors demand go up.
There are series of discussions in PCIJ before about this topic that could give clarity on some people’s mind here (tongue and vic can attest to it).
Ellen, I thought you’d be giving a more convincing reason why you’re supporting the doctors’ claim but you just relied on your doctor’s advice and you have not actually tried that cheaper medicine coming from India which could have given you the same effect.
It’s no secret in the phils., pharmaceutical companies have to spend a lot for gifts, perks, commissions, etc just to get doctors to prescribe a pharmaceutical company’s medicines. And for some unscrupulous doctors, it’s a bidding game. “Thank you gifts” include foreign vacation trips for the doctor and his family, appliances, cars, seminars and conferences abroad, etc.. Even doctors’ graduation rites are being sponsored by these pharmaceutical companies no wonder why prices of medicines in this country are way too high than our neighbors. That’s why PTIC is pushing for parallel importation to break up the drug cartel in this country.
We should not be fooled into believing what some doctors and other people are saying about Generic drugs being inferior compared to branded ones. Generic drugs are very much in use in most developing countries like the US, Canada and Europe so I don’t see any reason why it wont work in the Phils. By the way the sponsor of this Cheaper Medicine Bill in the Lower House is also a doctor.
Balweg, hindi bale kung ang problema lang mahal ang gamot sa Pilipinas, ang mas nakakabahala eh kung peke pa. The high cost of drugs is not the only problem limited to the Philippines and other third world countries, even in large countries such as US and Canada. Sa Canada, libre nga ang health service pero lintek ang presyo ng gamot. If you don’t have supplemental health insurance from the employer covering drug prescription, you would have to spend a lot. Kung insured ka ng company, I think you only pay 20% of the price. But my relatives recently told me that for seniors 65 and above, Canadians can now pay only a maximum $15 for each drug. In the US, it’s the same problem. Kung wala kang health insurance, mahal din ang mga gamot. The only safe thing abroad is that you’re buying genuine medicine unlike in the Philippines…halos lahat pati gamot peke.
Due to the high cost of drugs, it’s about time that people switch to natural healing process…herbal medicine. For thousands of years, people have been using these alternative medicine successfully. Noon pa sa China puro herbal na. The West now is combining Eatern and Western medicine realizing the value the East gives.
Someone above pointed out the corrupt practices of our doctors and hospitals in the Philippines. You bet. Palakasan is also seen in dealing with RP doctors. Kapag kilala mo at may padrino ka, you could get a prescription even without seeing the doctor. Madaling makakuha ng reseta. The drug salesmen also are corrupt. They sell the company samples to the pharmacy stores or individually. Sometimes, the doctors are in cahoots with pharmacy stores. Magbibigay ng gamot na doon lang mabibili sa kilala niyang tindahan.
Here’s one true story that you might be shocked: A friend told me that he knows of one family that’s so poor that to be able to buy medicine for the ailing parent, the young daughter (15 or 16 years old) is forced to exchange sex for drug. See how pitiful it is? Ang iba naman sex for drug (shabu). Drug importers and companies operate like Mafia. Parang cartel din iyan. Lahat na mga basic products tulad ng gamot, langis at iba pa ay kontrolado ng iilang tao. Even the distribution of coffee is controlled by Columbian Mafia in the world. Lahat na lang may pagsasamantala. Iyan ang isang masaklap na katotohanan na patuloy na dinaranas ng mga tao hindi lang sa Pilipinas kundi sa buong mundo.
hindi kasalanan ng doctor kung bakit mataas ang presyo ng gamot. its the fault of the drug companies. i dont think a doctor will be partial to a certain company thta gives him everything. every other company with the same line of drugs will “advertise” to the same doctor to the point of confusing the doctor whom to patronize. in the end, his choice will be the effective drug that will cure the patient.
Yang ang malaking problema Brownberry, kung peke ang gamot na ibinebenta sa mga Pharmacy? Kailangang maging bukas ang isipan ng marami nating kababayan, matutong magtanong o kaya bumasa kung ano bang klaseng gamot ang kanilang iniinom.
Ang lahat ng INFOs eh available na sa internet at kung walang way to reach all these materials eh approach those who are healthcare practitioners in your community or healthcare center di ba.
Ang hira sa marami nating kababayan eh WALA LANG, di kumilos at matutong magtanong-tanong.
You’re partly correct, rasmusen. However, corruption is not limited to government officials, law enforcers or those in power with authorities. Tao din ang mga doctor na natutukso at nasisilaw sa pera. The doctor involved might have relatives who own the drug company. The doctor might have been given some incentives, monetary or in material, to promote and market the company’s products and brands. Needless to say, some doctors are in cahoots with unscrupulous drug salesmen. Baka nga may mga doctor na nagbebenta pa ng mga samples na bigay ng salesmen at company. Hindi din imposible na maraming mga doctor ang may negosyong pharmacy din. Yes, may doctors are themselves owners of pharmacy stores.
But Balweg, sa tindi ng pangangailangan lalo na sa mga kulang sa education, paano nila malalaman ang tunay at peke? Kung minsan sa paggaling ng sakit ng isang tao, psychological lang ang dahilan at hindi gamot. If you give the guy a water pill making him believe it’s for headache, baka gumaling siya sa pag-aakalang tunay na gamot.
Tumpak ka Rasmusen1213, di dapat pagbuntunan ng sisi ang mga Duktor, bakit kamo wala naman silang share of stock sa mga multi-national drug companies na iyan di ba!
So, ang problema eh sa pagiging mangmang ng marami nating Kabababayan to know other alternative medicine, at di marunong magtanong sa Pharmacist.
Dapat ang pasyente kung mayroong bibilhing gamot sa butika eh matutong magtanong sa Pharmacist na available doon. Kasi eh trabaho nila to give us further INFO about the drugs therapeutiic indications. At kung di maintindihan pa eh puntahan ang kanyang duktor para maipaliwanag ng maayos ang gamot na iniriseta.
Syiempre ang duktor ang kanilang iririseta sa pasyente eh yong inaakala nilang effective na gamot at they tried to use new medicine pag may bagong labas sa market.
Ngayon ang gusto ng mga mambabatas natin eh yong GENERIC daw, sumaryosep yang generic drug na sinasabi nila eh branded din yan na gawa ng different drug manufacturers at nataon lamang na ito ay aangkatin sa ibang bansa o mapalokal man.
Ang pagkakaiba lang niyan eh kung sino ang gumawa at saang bansa nanggaling, doon nagkakatalo ang presyo.
Ang pagiging mangmang Browberry eh di dapat maging excuse ninuman, sapagka’t nasasa tao ang kanyang pagiging NO READ NO WRITE kung di sila magsisikap sa buhay.
Look and see, ang mga ibong sa kalangitan eh di nag-aani eh pero nangangabuhay at masasayang naglalaro sa himpapawid o sa kakahuyan, but tayong tao na binigyan ng talino upang matuklasan natin ang tama o mali di ba.
Simple arithmitic, kung papaano nilang matutuhang manigarilyo eh dapat matutuhan din nilang talikdan ito, pero ano ang katwiran ng maraming Pinoy, mahirap daw eh bakit ng magsimula silang humitit ng tabako eh ang dali-dali lang. Logic at common sense lang!
Ang kamangmangan eh may gamot diyan, sipag at tiyaga ni Senador Villar!
after reading all the comments above..naintindihan ko na kung bakit mahal ang gamot…ang LAGAY pala dahil sa iTONG life style ng mga doctors and to keep up with it through the FREEBIES courtesy of the pharmaceutical firms..mabuti pa noong araw..pag sumakit ang ulo ko ang sabi ni Tay Juan na isang doctor sa Sibalom, Antique..kumuha ka ng buyo at ibanyos mo, o kaya manzanilla..kung nasugatan ka at para hindi magkaroon ng infection boil leaves of guavas and wash the wound with it…at ayos ang buto buto…
..may I leave the room na nga at bibili ako ng “lunch combination to go…nilagang manok with malunggay leaves and green papaya cooked with “tanglad” and ginger- soup for
the soul and the cold…tgrrr manong!
..ang kwento ko sa itaas about Tay Juan’s prescription is true..He practiced medicine in Sibalom, Antique for many years until he died…rather than in Manila..and because the people are poor he studied the medicinal properties of the plants and together with his wife (a pharmacist) they used herbal medicine..at that time ang mahal ng bayer aspirin, bandaid, etc. and herbs were used..nakaraos din..at ngayon I am enjoying the luxury of time thanks to the Medicare A and B I manage to survive for less than a $100/month..
and if I may add..hopefully and I pray that things will be much better after May 2010 because…”mauli gid takon sa Antique” and hopefully also by then Speaker Pelosi and Congress will allow us to be able to use our Medicare A & B sa Philippines..tomorrow is another day and it looks bright..at tunay na glory at hindi gory..
Balweg, hindi ko kailan man pinipintasan at pipintasan ang mga mangmang. The issue is how to distinguish between the fake and genuine. Even the most learned, the brightest are deceived into believing what they buy and eat are real. Sa panahon ngayon, mahirap talaga malaman kung tunay o hindi. Kaya ano pa sa mga kapos sa pag-aaral at education di ba? Sabihin mong basahin nila eh ang pagkabasa nila sa produkto parang tunay. That’s my only point and nothing else.
My thread is openly address to our fellow folks Brownberry at nagkukwentuhan lamang tayo to explain and/or suggesting sa lahat na ang kamangmangan eh di rason para di tayo makaalam sa anumang bagay.
I’m happy sa iyong mga comments/suggestions/point of views, gets ko yon OK! Smile naman……..pag nag-uusap tayo eh para sa sa lahat yon at di address sa atin, i may right and you too!
Of course walang problema sa ating dalawa. Both our names start with letter “B” naman. Parang Barako…Barako Obama di ba?
BNG/Bal: mahirap nga sagutin ang True or False..kasi noong panahon sa test walang maybe..True or False: Questions.
1) Was GMA duly elected?
2) Si Me gal so Very .. nanalo? tunay?
3) Ang tumulong sa pagtakas ni Faeldon ay isang lady
reporter? PLDT line man?
And if you are not sure of your answers..be a military man, when in doubt salute! and say Yes Maam!
Kami ni Balweg laging naka-salute lalo na sa umaga pagkagising.
In a few European countries, the pharmacist mixes his own medicine based on the generic prescription. Branded drugs are reserved for those with rare ingredients or for rare diseases that stocking up on the expensive component chemicals is not a sound practice. The powder form ingredients are mixed by weight, blended, and poured into empty capsule packs before dispensing to the buyer. The med gets cheaper as common ingredients of several drugs may be bought by bulk. No ads, no promos, just pure medicine!
Tongue-T: that is what I thought pharmacists were supposed to do..mix the ingredients to make the medicine..pero ngayon pagnagtanong ka kung ano ang gamot sa ubo..ang sabihin sa iyo go to Aisle 1 and look at the counter for Nyquill..ano ang gamot sa sakit ulo..go to Aisle 2 and get Tylenol..extra strength…kaya mahal…
Toungue, it would be great if we can do the same mixing in the Philippines but unfortunately we are not quite that trustworthy to do anything like this,as of yet. Pharmaceutical companies still have to be relied on for assays of all drugs. But maybe our pharmaceucical companies can start pre-mixing the medicines so the price of these will be reduced.This would help us a lot!
Ang mga mangmang ay ang mga doctors. Di nga marunong magsulat. Try reading your prescription before going to the druggist. Ang pharmaceuticals ay nanghuhula lamang kung ano ang ibibigay. Basta mahal, yon na. Karamihan na gamot ay cure all, by the way. Sa wala ngang gamot nakakagaling. Tayong mga bumalik sa pagka 20 years old, bayabas lang ang gamit ng hilot noong pinanganak tayo. At usok ng kalan at tabako. Di naman siguro yan ang dahilan kung bakit karamihan ay pangit ng asal.
Valdemar: Ang mga mangmang ay ang mga doctors. Di nga marunong magsulat. Try reading your prescription before going to the druggist.
******
Hahahahahaha! Oo nga ano? Papaano nababasa ng mga drug store sa Pilipinas ang kinahig ng manok na sulat ng mga doctor doon? Pero siguro depende din sa doktor. Kasi iyong kapatid ko pag nagresita, malinaw naman ang sulat niya. May generic name pa nga siyang sinusulat just in case wala iyong gamot na nirerekomenda niya.
Rose: that is what I thought pharmacists were supposed to do..mix the ingredients to make the medicine..pero ngayon pagnagtanong ka kung ano ang gamot sa ubo.
*****
Sa amin, Rose, pati hospital maliban na lang doon sa mga naka-confine, lahat ng medication binibili sa botika at kung prescription ay puedeng ipabayad sa health insurance. Kahit iyong ibinayad ng isang indigent halimbawa puede ding ihingi ng welfare. Hindi na puedeng manggaling sa mga clinic ang mga gamot unless may sariling pharmacist ang hospital o clinic.
Para sa akin, OK iyan para malinaw at makapagtrabaho ang lahat ng dapat nilang trabahuhin based sa kanilang mga kakayahan. Puro kung iyong batas na ipa-pass nila ay para lang sa pangungurakot ng mga ungas, dapat iyang batikosin ng husto lalo na kung hindi naman makikinabang ang dapat na maging beneficiary ng ganitong uri ng batas.
Perks or sometimes called “payola” given to doctors are not direct costs in the manufacture or importation of drugs and medicines and hardly affect production costs. In fact they are not even included in the cost calculation. While it does not affect production cost, somewhere along the way it finds its way into the market pricing.
Honestly I have not heard about pharmacists mixing drugs in a pharmacy store. How can just anybody mix his own cold or cough medicines when all chemical ingredients that go into it are still raw. The non-prescription cold tablet or a cough syrup contains at least five chemical ingredients and even before and after the manufacturing process under the watchful eye of a licensed chemical engineer, it still has to pass some test and analysis by a chief pharmacist who by the way has a doctorate in her profession. A possible explanation is that, a pharmacy store buys the already manufactured medicine in bulk either in tablets, capsule or liquid, and sells the same in retail. But for them to mix it in the store, I don’t think so. You have to manufacture drugs and medicines in a laboratory not in a pharmacy store or anywhere else for that matter. Anyways that was before, the old-fashioned way, maybe now something became so modern because of the high tech and it’s a shame I don’t even have any knowledge about it.
my two cents…ummmm, bakit kailangang guluhin ang isang systema na tumatakbo naman. bakit hindi tingnan ang issue ng corruption, systema na puro ngawa, “we will trample graft n whatever ek-ek” since time immemorial pero wala naman nangyayari..mga smuggling of cars, mga issue sa kotong sa entry port, mga barriong wlang eskwelahan, mga issue sa labor, mga batang nagkalat sa kalye..i could go on and on and on…nawawalan na nga tayo ng mga Dr na magagaling, pati ba naman gamot pakikialaman din?…i use generic and branded and price may just be the diffrence…let the end user decide..pero wag naman busalan ang mga taong talagang gumagawa ng kanilang tungkulin…
Purple, long time no hear. Welcome back!
Agree, Purple… “let the end user decide”.
Unahin ang isyu ni Gloria Pidal Arroyo, ang ugat ng korapsyon!
Ms. Brownberry ang siste kaninang umaga eh late akong nagising kasi nasosobra na ata ako sa puyat sa Ellenville sa pakikipagtsikahan. Nakakaenjoy kasi kaya pagkagaling ko ng work eh nakababad na ako sa computer. Buti na lamang di ito nagrereklamo?
Ang sarap kasing humabi kapag inspirado ka sa bawat topic na pinag-uusapan. Buti na lamang ang Bosing ko eh may Business trip at wala sa office, late na akong dumating sa office pero dumiretso ako sa travel agency at pagkatapos balik ng office.
Balweg, Mr. ako hindi Miss. Lagi akong sumasaludo tuwing umaga paggising.
You have not answered my question if you’re based abroad and where. Sa tono ng kuwento mo, you’re working in a large company and your boss travels a lot.
I second the motion Ms. Purple, dapat magkaroon ng teamwork ang duktor at pasyente para maging epektibo ang gamot na iririseta to cure the disease.
Ang kailangan po lamang eh maeducate ang taong-Bayan about the availability of generic drugs sa local market at magkaroon ng comparison sa price nito sa branded.
Ofcourse naman nakataya ang dignidad ng isang duktor pag siya ang attending physician ng pasyente at dapat lang na bigyan ng effective drug(s).
Ang dapat gawin ng gobyerno eh mag-angkat ng murang gamot sa ibang bansa, ang problema sure na papalag ang mga local drug manufacturers dahil maapektuhan ang kanilang produkto.
Ito dapat ang ayusin nila at magkaroon ng maayos na pag-uusap. Sa ngayon ang analysis ko eh ang Mambabatas eh pabor na umangkat ng gamot sa ibang bansa pabor sa taong-Bayan, but kontra dito ang mga drug manufacturers with the support of Doctors.
Parang generic vs. branded drugs standoff ito!
Sorry Kgg. Brownberry napikit ang eyes ko para kay Rose ang “Ms”.”, di ko napansin ng pitikin ko itong keyboard.
Yaps, I’m working in a gov’t military health affairs institution, somewhere around thousand miles away!
My immediate Superiors are Military officers a Colonel (General Director)& Lt.Colonel (Director) with sidekick Major(Manager) & Captains.
I mingled and work with different people [military (officers & rank and file) and civilian (medical services & operations) staff.
Kaya medyo nakakarelate ako sa usapang pang military issues at pang kalusugan because of my exposure sa field na ito.
Thanks balweg, but you still didn’t say where you’re based. Are you here in the Philippines or abroad? Since you mentioned “miles”, I presume you’re in the US. So, you’re a military civilian employee. Good.
Florry,
That’s because we have been used to buying from drug store chains like Mercury in Manila or Walgreens in the US. Europe’s pharma distribution industry is peculiar and are far more unique and the differences are wide-ranging in many aspects.
Europe’s generic compliance, for example, especially in the UK where Europe is at its highest, is but a dismal 66%. In France, Belgium, Norway, and Austria generic prescriptions are almost inexistent. In Denmark, Spain, France, Germany and Austria, pharmacists cannot operate chains. I think it is because of the low pharmacist ratio to population. They employ druggists who dispense OTC-only drugs while pharmacists dispense prescription-only medicines. This made OTC drugs available even in groceries.
In the Netherlands, Pharmacists enjoy the same status as doctors as they spend a longer time in school than doctors – seven and a half years! That brings professional jealousy into the play as doctors are threatened by the buyers’ habit of seeking the pharmacists even on areas normally reserved for doctors – diabetes, cholesterol, and pregnancy tests are now done in the drug store. So are blood pressure measurement and dietary advice. Similarly in Italy, Doctors see this as a threat to their incomes.
In the US, drug stores are also Lottery ticket sellers, ATM booths, Western Union money centers and convenience stores all rolled into one. Here, Mercury outlets are now also selling groceries while Dr. Watson’s takes a step further by selling even women’s fashion accessories.
Florry:
“… But the best part of the business is they don’t bring in their own money for the operation. Philippine banks finance the operation thru business loans. Para tayong GINIGISA sa sariling mantika…” (emphasis mine)
*******
Such perception is NOT without basis. Though still not popularly held by many, it bolster further claims of certain (very) credible quarters from the field of academe and research, that skewed loan arrangements favoring foreign-based firms erodes further the capability of the locals—–who are in constant frantic search for a more viable source of funds, to compete in his own turf.
Walden Bello’s book, The Development Debacle, a rich compilation of real World Bank reports/in-house commentaries deliberately leaked outside by insiders who deeply felt disturbed by the fiscal and monetary policies imposed by the Bank on us, basically essays the same theme—ginigisa ang Pilipinas sa sariling mantika.
Zen2,
And that is what the windbag Gloria actually trumpets, the investors she invited over. It’s not even “investment” in the pure sense of the word. Newcomers for big-ticket projects literally squeeze the local market dry of available credit to the detriment of oldtimers who need a quick fix to finance their inputs. At least those who haven’t already moved their plants to China, Vietnam, or Indonesia. These companies resort to overnight borrowing at rates greedy bankers dictate.