I know I haven’t posted for more than a week now. I’m still adjusting to the “concerts” my little boys have every night (When one cries for milk, the other other wakes up and cries with the other. More on that on a separate post.)

Right now, I want to be a good citizen and try to make a difference in our country, so I signed this ONLINE PETITION for the passage of Cheaper Medicines Act.

Philippine Senator Mar Roxas has authored a bill concerning medicine cost in the country. It was discovered that there are many expensive medicines in the Philippines that cost much less in other countries. Same medicines, manufactured by the same medical company. Here are examples of of price differentials of drugs in the Philippines and other countries:

a. Norvasc, a maintenance drug for hypertension, is priced at P44.75 in the Philippines yet sells for the equivalent of P5.00 in India.
b. Bactrim 400, a drug to treat respiratory tract infection, is priced at P17.75 per tablet in the Philippines yet sells for the equivalent of P1.00 in Pakistan and 69 centavos in India.
c. Ventolin inhaler for asthmatic children is priced at P406 per inhaler in the Philippines yet sells for P231 per inhaler in Bangkok, Thailand.

(Prices are in Philippine Peso. Click here to check how much those are in your currency.)

It’s hard to ignore cases like these. Medicines are among the many things that Filipinos need to become more affordable. People actually die in the Philippines because they can’t afford the high costs of medicines prescribed to cure them or make them better or live longer.

It’s a good thing there are still people who take a step to make living a bit easier for others. It’s a good thing, too, that these people are in a position high enough to make things happen. Whatever his reasons are for passing this bill (some are saying he’s doing this just to get votes for his presidential candidacy on the 2010 National Election), Senator Mar Roxas is doing a noble deed.

I don’t think it matters if you’re a Filipino or not, but if you support people trying to make a difference in this world, please do sign the petition. If you’re not sure if you give a damn or not, reading the comments of those who signed might help you make up your mind.

Image taken from MakeTradeFair.com and JupiterImages.