Pia confident of agreement on final version of cheaper meds bill

Senator Pia S. Cayetano is confident that members of the Senate and House panels deliberating the cheaper medicines bill will move towards a final resolution on the "generics only provision" when the bicameral conference committee meetings on the landmark bill resume this week.

Cayetano said senators will await the House panel's decision on whether it would still pursue the provision in light of the appeal made by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to have it withdrawn from the proposed measure.

"There is more reason now to be confident that we can come to an agreement on the final version of this bill," Cayetano, chairperson of the senate committee on health and demography, said.

The House is expected to disclose its position on or before the next bicameral meeting scheduled this Wednesday, April 23.

Still, Cayetano assured that the Senate panel is prepared to present its counter-proposals in case the House panel continues to insist on the controversial provision.

"As I have been saying, the generics only provision should not be included because of the many issues and implications that require further deliberations. From our bicameral meetings, this is the position supported by all stakeholders on this issue."

"But if the House insists on it, I have presented a version that includes provisions which will ensure that we have quality as well as affordable medicines."

Cayetano's proposal generally calls for the establishment of a set of safeguards and strict conditions for the implementation of the generics only provision.

The details of the proposal will be formally presented and tackled at the bicameral meeting on Wednesday.