Press Release
August 8, 2007

Pia: Breastfeeding, milk ad ban and
cheaper medicines top health committee agenda

Breastfeeding promotion, stronger regulations on baby milk advertisements, and lowering of drug prices will be given top priority by the Senate Committee on Health and Demography in the 14th Congress, reappointed Chairperson Senator Pia S. Cayetano announced today.

At the same time, the lady senator said she was willing to help iron out differences between the House and Senate versions of the Cheaper Medicines Bill, and even among similarly themed bills filed by different senators seeking to lower drug prices.

"Health doesn't have to be expensive. I believe that's what all these measures are basically all about," the lady senator said in reference to her bill, Senate Bill No. 761 ("Expanded Breastfeeding Promotion Act"), the Cheaper Medicines Bill, and a separate measure she is set to file seeking to toughen regulations on the promotion of infant formula under the National Milk Code (Executive Order No. 51).

"These bills share a common objective of ensuring our people's health while reducing their out-of-pocket expenseswhether for highly-priced infant formula or for common and life-saving drugs," she added.

SBN 761 seeks to revive the culture of breastfeeding in the country by mandating the establishment of lactation stations in public places and workplaces where nursing mothers can feed their baby or express their milk.

The bill will also require employers to allow paid "milk breaks" for their nursing female employees to encourage them to continue breastfeeding even after returning to work upon giving birth.

Meanwhile, SBN 101 (authored by Sen. Mar Roxas) will introduce key amendments to the Intellectual Property Code to allow, among others, parallel importation of cheaper medicines, easing up of restrictions for the production of generic drugs prior to the expiration of their patents, and clarifying mechanisms for government use of patents in case of national emergencies.

Senator Manuel Villar's version (SBN 90) is similar to House Bill No.1 authored by Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, as it also creates a Drug Prices Regulation Board.

Cayetano has filed her own version of the cheaper medicines bill, SBN 1404, which is the same committee report she co-sponsored with Sen. Roxas which passed in the 13th Congress.

Finally, her bill on milk ads seeks to curb the aggressive promotional campaign for infant formula which has also discouraged mothers from breastfeeding their babies. It will prohibit advertisements of breastmilk substitutes for infants and young children up to two years old.

Manufacturers will also be prohibited from branding and packaging their breastmilk substitutes similar to the milk products they market for older children. This is to prevent them from using brand awareness and product "loyalty" among consumers to skirt the infant formula ad ban.

The bill will likewise prevent manufacturers from sponsoring breastfeeding promotion activities, except in the form of donations to the Department of Health, with no attached conditions. The funds shall then be used by DOH in its national breastfeeding promotion and education campaign.

News Latest News Feed