MANILA — The House Committee on Senior Citizens approved on Tuesday the conduct of a motu proprio inquiry into alleged delays in the approval, assessment, and inclusion of essential medicines into the Philippine National Formulary.
The inquiry in aid of legislation will also look into the implications of the supposed delays on the timely, affordable and equitable access to medicines, particularly among senior citizens and other vulnerable sectors.
“The proposed inquiry seeks to examine the processes, requirements and institutional bottlenecks affecting the approval, health technology assessment, formulary inclusion, and subsequent access to essential medicines including the respective processes of the Food and Drug Adminsitration, Health Technology Assessment Council, the Department of Health and PhilHealth,” House Committee Chairperson and United Senior Citizens Party List Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay said.
“The inquiry will also seek to determine the causes of these delays, assess their impact to patients and beneficiaries, particularly senior citizens, and identify appropriate legislative and policy measures to address existing gaps, and ensure more timely, affordable, and equitable access to essential medicines,” she added.
COMMITTEE-APPROVED BILLS
The House panel approved the committee report on the consolidated House Bills providing for the regulation, accreditation and standards for residential care facilities or homes for the elderly.
The committee also approved the proposed measure mandating all national government agencies, executive departments, bureaus, and local government units to set aside at least 3% of their total budget for programs, projects, and activities for senior citizens.
The panel directed the secretariat to prepare a substitute bill and the corresponding committee report subject to further consideration and approval by the committee.
“The Committee has taken note of the Department of Budget and Management’s position that a fixed 3% allocation may affect budget flexibility and efficient resource allocation, considering the different mandates and budgetary requirements of government agencies and local government units… The DBM also noted that the previous 1% mandatory allocation under the General Appropriations Acts of fiscal years 2003 to 2012 is no longer prescribed as a fixed requirement under the FY 2026 GAA,” Magsasysay said.