Expensive medicines
IF many sick Filipinos, particularly in the countryside, still go to “faith healers” and “quack doctors,” blame it partly on the high costs of drugs and medical services.
In fact, people still die without seeing a medical doctor or any health professional because of extreme poverty in this country teeming with rich natural resources.
Thus, the public wants the government of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. to focus its attention on reducing the costs of drugs and medical supplies.
Hopefully, the new administration, through the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned state agencies, sets up distribution centers for low-priced medicines.
And we urge the incoming health secretary to pack the country’s barangay and municipal health centers with sufficient highly-effective medicines and vitamins.
In our view, these are correct moves. Particularly for the poorest of the poor not only in the countryside but elsewhere, where there’s hunger and widespread poverty.
“Sa ngayon ay marami ang napipilitang komunsulta sa quack doctors at faith healers, lalo na sa mga liblib na pook, dahil sa sobrang kahirapan,” lamented a jobless man.
Doubtless, the public expects the Senate and the House of Representatives to institute remedial legislation to make sure that the Filipino people have access to cheap drugs.
And our pharmaceutical companies ought to help the government in unburdening our citizens, especially the poor, from the problem of expensive drugs.
Baka puwede pang ibaba ang presyo ng mga produkto ninyo, kasama na ang mga pain reliever.
