Medicine prices in Philippines are higher than in other places

Costly medicine in the Philippines  The Philippine Star September 09, 2005  Other public officials have pointed this out before, as well as many people who have been abroad. Medicine prices in this country are higher than in other places, making the cost of basic health care prohibitive for millions of Filipinos.

In previous years the government has addressed the problem by promoting generic drugs and even importing some of the most widely used medicine for common ailments. The efforts have paid off, but there are still too many drugs that are beyond the reach of the masses. And there is still public resistance to using generic drugs as manufacturers of branded medicines warn of the unreliable efficacy of generic drugs, particularly those imported and made by little known companies.

Medicine prices are so high that many Filipinos suffering from debilitating illnesses that need lifetime medication, such as diabetes and cardiac ailments, simply wait for death. Many Filipinos don’t bother taking medicine to relieve the discomfort of mild afflictions such as coughs. Continue reading here  http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=295722