Where's our cheap medicine?

Where's our cheap medicine?

   7/25/2009 08:35:00 PM       freemindonline

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According to the deputy presidential spokesperson of Malacañang Gary Olivar, “The implications for economic health go beyond just the issue of cheaper medicines at hand”. Well noted, a valid and logical call. But why did we get to this situation of exorbitant medicine prices?. Who made the deal to let these pharmaceutical companies set up shop in the Philippines without setting controls against possible opportunistic business practices?. Will this be a learning lesson to prepare and plan an escape or stop this kind of binding?. Malacañang can and able to implement Martial Law for the right reasons, legally if you may call it. But what will be the basis of malacañang to declare that these multinational drug companies are just robbing the Filipino people of their rights for cheaper medicines. Had the government done their math of how much these multinationals are earning. For sure these companies will still earn with the Cheaper Medicine Act, it will hurt their pockets but they will still earn and earn good. The Philippine government just called their bluff!.

The government is portraying that they are in control. But we can see they are in no position to do anything but to submit to blackmail left and right, defending their decisions that should have been pro Filipino from the start. I don't think thats in control.

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Melissa Roxas

Melissa Roxas

   7/24/2009 09:29:00 AM       freemindonline

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In a general sense her supposed military abduction enhances the Filipinos distrust in government. It will fuel more hatred and false situation that will chain react in the future. Government must make the people feel that they are in full control through lawful and good governance. We are all getting frustrated of what we think should be right for our country. Threatening or worse killing your way to righteous beliefs will only be countered by the same manner, but then again are we sure of the facts?. Even the type of leadership of the deposed Ferdinand Marcos didn't last.

Somebody is running the government other than the government that we are seeing for this situation to happen. We have a government within a government. Think about it, who are the people to benefit from this?............And what will they benefit?, How much?...........

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Medicines moves government

Medicines moves government

   7/22/2009 10:56:00 PM       freemindonline

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The US is also having problems with the clout of the pharmaceutical companies. I won't be surprised if the Philippines government make this as an excuse -- if big brother can't do anything, small brother can't as well...

Here's a scenario:
a) President Arroya having problems implementing the Cheaper Medicine Act. Thanks to the lobbying of the foreign pharmaceutical companies, not to mention advisers of the president from these companies with conflict of interest!.
b) Philippine president (GMA) goes to the US to meet with President Obama.
c) US government advices GMA to just let the foreign pharmaceutical companies be or suffer the consequences. As if the Philippines has no other options to choose from.
d) The Philippine government gives in to the foreign pharmaceuticals posturing but pushes for the GENERIC MEDICINES as an alternative.
e) Philippine government leaves alone local producers of generic medicines to fend on their own. Implementing new policies to cater to foreign pharmaceuticals.
f) Foreign pharmaceutical companies compete with local drug producers on prices.
g) Local drug producers suffer heavy losses from the price competitiveness of foreign pharma products.
h) Local drug producers close shop.
i) Foreign pharmaceutical companies increase the prices of their medicines as the market can bear.

Plain and simple -- The policies that will govern the land (Philippines) must be a policy that will be formulated and conceptualized for the Filipinos by the Filipinos. Foreign advice must be "advices" and not to be the rule of the land.

We the paying public, the tax payers, deserve more and demand more!...

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Powerade Team Pilipinas

Powerade Team Pilipinas

   7/21/2009 06:01:00 PM       freemindonline

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I am not supposed to comment about our national basketball team but the Powerade Team Pilipinas is a joke!. I am not a fan of basketball but I watch Filipino players if they fight against foreign nationals as much as I can. I saw the national basketball team since the time with their tall slow man EJ Feihl. The Filipino game play doesn't really change then and had not changed now. We need to ADOPT-ADOPT-ADOPT!!!. The commentator who saw the national team before and now says the same thing!. Adopt, the Filipino needs to adopt and not play how they play in the local scene - fundamentals!. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE FILIPINO BASKETBALL GAMEPLAY IS NOT COMPETETIVE IN THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE, PLANE AND SIMPLE...

We need a team and most importantly a coach who has experience in the international game play who are not stars in the Philippines. It's a bigger psychological effect for star players in professional leagues to be a loosing team in international plays. They won't have the drive to continue with full intensity all the way -- that's how I've seen them before and now.

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Cheap Medicines and the Pharmaceuticals

Cheap Medicines and the Pharmaceuticals

   7/16/2009 06:54:00 AM       freemindonline

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Our Cheaper Medicines Act at the hands of big pharmaceutical companies!.

Pharmaceutical companies would prefer a better option, something is wrong in this scenario. Since when did price control not a better scenario for the buying public?.

Changing the rules in the middle of the game does not give a positive signal to investors. But what kind of game is it when there is one and only one winner again and again. Even in the game of boxing (but I prefer the UFC), if the opponent is beaten black and blue, the fight is stopped. If the buying public is paying for medicines as high as the market will bear, something is really wrong...

Open market and fair competition for the betterment of the buying public. Yes the buying public, this is the basics where business revolves around. The government must make sure that the public welfare are first and foremost.

A LAW WILL MAKE SURE THAT ALL ARE KEPT IN LINE AND NOT JUST FOLLOW AT WILL!

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Italian hostage freed

Italian hostage freed

   7/15/2009 07:04:00 PM       freemindonline

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Italian hostage Vagni freed!. The Philippine military did it under pressure. Is this a jump for joy or just face-saving that will keep repeating itself...

What is the real agenda that made the hostage taking drag for six months!. Better yet, what blunder will the military result to or the government it serves because of this sudden release of the hostage?.

It is a matter of fact that the Philippine government are good at fixes of their own doing that results to new headaches and shameful actions just to get things done.

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Smart Prepaid

Smart Prepaid

   7/14/2009 09:51:00 PM       freemindonline

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I've noticed that my Smart prepaid load of PhP100 is taking me longer to consume or is Smart just being good today. Usually when I load an amount to my mobile phone I consume only around half until the remaining balance expires...

The NTC must craft telecommunication policies based on protection from "opportunistic intent " in mind. It's the NTC's job! to protect the people and not the other way around. If the telecommunication companies suggest at their own detriment, something is wrong. Somebody is seeing a better end of the stick but it is not the public for sure.

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