DOH 6 to implement electronic monitoring of drugstore prices
The Department of Health 6 said they will soon conduct an electronic monitor prices of drugs sold in pharmacies.
Delia Tarrosa, head of the Licensing and Regulatory Enforcement Division of DOH, said that this is possible with the electronic-essential drug price monitoring system (e-EDPMS).
She said the e-EDPMS will make it easier for the DOH and the authorities to monitor drug prices, as well as implement provisions of the Cheaper Medicines Act, the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and Price Act of the Philippines.
DOH has already trained some 70 percent of representatives of drugstore outlets in Western Visayas.
They were also taught on how the system works and that it is programmed by the government against tampering and other abuse.
DOH plans to train all drugstore representatives before the month ends.
There are around 2,200 drug stores in Western Visayas.
The drugstores will submit their price reports twice a month. The data will be compared with that of other drugstores and the prevailing drug prices in the market, she said.
Erring drugstores will be sanctioned with stiff penalties and could lose their franchise and permits.
Rex Jardiolin of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) said that the e-EDPMS will boost their monitoring of drug and medical products.
He added that FDA would be coordinating with the different national agencies to strictly implement and use the e-EDPMS program. The aim is one hundred percent compliance this year.
DOH also mulls that these prices per drugstores might soon be available for public viewing in the internet. PIA
