Philippine bill calls for new drug price commission
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
A Philippine congressman has filed a proposal calling for the establishment of a new independent commission to monitor the price of prescription drugs. Representative Narciso Santiago's house bill envisages the commission be tasked with reviewing prices in other reference countries, and monitoring and making recommendations on appropriate local price levels. It would also be responsible for proposing the structure, membership and function of a new price review board called for in cheaper medicines legislation approved earlier this year (Scrip Online, June 24th, 2008). The commission would in addition work out guidelines for starting prices and price increases, recommend fair pricing incentives for manufacturers and make regular reports to Congress, the bill states.