Suplico slams 'bakla' version of Cheaper Meds Bill
A victory for the multinational drug companies and defeat for the Filipino masses.
Such summed up the sentiments of Vice Governor Rolex Suplico on the latest turn of events of the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
Pushed for final deliberations of the Bicameral Conference Committee that gathered players from both the Lower House and Senate, the vice governor, sole and original author of the Bill slammed the turn-out.
In a message sent to The News Today (TNT), Suplico decried what he said was a "sell-out."
"…since the Bicameral Conference Committee removed the Bill's price regulatory provisions, the Bicam should change the title. I coined the title "Cheap Medicine Act" in the 13th Congress (2004-2007) when I was a 3rd termer believing that it will result in cheap medicines. The Bicam should rename this castrated bill as it won't result in cheap medicines. We should not fool the people. I suggest they rename the bill An Act increasing the profits of Multinational Drug Companies in the Philippines," Suplico said.
And his sentiments do not stop there. Suplico went ahead to condemn the said "sell-out" saying "the multinational drug companies have won."
"They have removed the regulatory provisions which is the heart of the cheaper medicine Bill. This bakla version will now be enacted into law and forced-feed to the Filipino people. The era of prohibitive drug prices is here to stay," Vice Governor Suplico ended.