Cheaper Philippine Meds: EO 821 Signed!

Inquirer.net, 28 July 2009

Some questions linger:

1. Why are only 5 essential medicines included when the original recommendation by the Department of Health (DOH) was more than 20? Only these 5 medicines are included --- "the anti-hypertensive amlodipine (including its S-isomer and all salt form); the anti-cholesterol atorvastatin; the antibiotic/antibacterial azithromycin (and all its salt form); and the anti-neoplastics/anti-cancer cytarabine and doxorubicin (and all its salt form)."
2. Why still wait this long ? Executive Order 821 takes effect on August 15, 2009. Meanwhile, chronically-ill patients whose survival depend on these medicines will bear the unnecessary risk of becoming worse or dying.
   

Mothers Who Spank Their Children

Moms who suffered physical abuse or other violent experiences in childhood are much more likely to spank their infants than moms who did not suffer these adverse childhood experiences, results of a new study indicate.

This study provides more evidence that a mother's past experiences in her own childhood have a "huge impact on how she approaches her own children," Dr. Esther K. Chung from Jefferson Pediatrics/duPont Children's Health Program in Philadelphia told Reuters Health.

Among a group of 1265 mostly black, single, low-income mothers of infants up to 11 months old, Chung and colleagues discovered that 19% said they "valued" corporal punishment as a means of discipline and 14% reported spanking their infants.

"We were pretty surprised, actually, to find the high prevalence of infant spanking because, on average, the children were about 9 months old and to think that children that young are being hit is disturbing," Chung said.
~ Reuters, 20 July 2009

In the Philippines, spanking of children is still practiced, not only by parents, but some school teachers, especially in rural areas. They believe that a child that has been spanked will grow up to be a more disciplined person.

Yes, it is true that most of these mothers were also spanked when they were kids. Spanking of children has a deep cultural history here.

The reasoning is that if it worked for the parents, then it must work for the kids also.

Kids who grow up with little corporal punishment are somewhat frowned upon by the elders, especially if they end up as bad adults. 'Bad adults' is a subjective description, of course. In this day and age of child abuse, however, the mindset is gradually changing.

Why Medicines in the Philippines are Expensive

A doctor-congressman has another insightful explanation on why prescription drugs in the Philippines remain unaffordable.

He pinpoints Mercury Drug, the country's biggest pharmacy, as the culprit.

SOURCE: Inquirer.net, 18 July 2009

With profits of over a billion pesos every year, it is not difficult to see that Biron has a point to isolate Mercury Drug as a major factor in this perennial problem. Can they cut their profit margins to the levels of Thailand and India?

Mercury Drug offers weekly discounts on select products, none of which have been in the prescriptive category. And, even if they did offer discounts, these are piecemeal only.

The pharmacy giant even has a rewards program in the form of "Suki cards," which hardly benefit majority of its customers. Mercury's only claim to public service rests in its age-old marketing tagline that states, "nakakasiguro, gamot ay laging bago [Translation - we assure everyone that our medicines are always new!]

Maybe it is time the lawmakers also look at the possibility of drafting laws to address the pricing policies of Mercury Drug Corporation.

Meanwhile, today is the deadline the President gave drug companies to voluntarily cut their prices by 50 percent. If not, she will sign an Executive Order forcing them to do so.

Will Arroyo sign such an instrument? With the State of the Nation Address a mere number of days away, there is strong possibility she will.

The days of cheaper medicines are coming?

Let's hope so.

Wanted: (A)H1N1 Vaccine

Even the World Health Organization is pleading that an (A)H1N1 flu vaccine be developed at the soonest possible time, possibly before autumn or winter begins this year.

WHO also said that nurses, doctors, and health workers should be vaccinated first. Then, all the rest of the people in all countries should get it.



I also think developing countries should get a discount from drug companies who will develop the said vaccine. Not everyone can afford this vaccine for sure.

Vaccine developers need not worry about their profit margins when giving a discount. With the whole planet as customer, this vaccine will certainly be a bestseller.

Swearing is Therapeutic

Swearing, cussing, cursing, or saying the unutterables makes you feel good. It appears it is a potent psychological analgesic.



So, when you feel like doing it, go!!! @%$*&#!!!!

Better to blaspheme and let the expletives explode that than die of a heart attack later on.

Obesity + (A)H1N1 = Probable ICU Confinement

Obesity is developing to be a risk for poor prognosis for patients with (A)H1N1.



More fat means more work for the respiratory muscles, and with (A)H1N1, respiration has to be efficient in order to survive.

Reduce Colon Cancer Risk

Colon cancer is a disease of lifestyle.



Consume less or stop eating red and processed meats --- hams, hotdogs, bacon, even those tocinos you love to eat for breakfast.

Stop smoking. I have emphasized that over and over.

Exercise more. Movement has many benefits. It also decreases both your diabetes and obesity risks.

Former President Corazon Aquino is now battling colon cancer. The health tips above are a bit too late for her, but not for most people reading this.

Reduce your colon cancer risk; lifestyle modification is still the best cure.

Gloria Arroyo's Self-Quarantine?

Truly, everything is not what it seems.

It is just a cover for pending cosmetic and gynecologic medical concerns. President Gloria Arroyo is probably making good use of her self-imposed quarantine. I wonder if other members of her delegation are also doing the same.



Currently, the Philippines has nearly 2,000 (A)H1N1 cases, majority of whom have recovered (the good news).

___________________

UPDATE on 06 July 2009: The problem with telling lies is that later on, you might have to tell the truth. "Chief talker" is Cerge Remonde, the president's spokesperson.

Why Daily Sex Might Be Good

The best alternative to fertility problems is simple enough.

But not all men might be up to it. Also, it takes two to tango. The females should be open to this option, if the couple really wants to conceive.