Columnist tags Biron as 'legalized big-time neighborhood drug pusher'
Tables have now been turned, publicly that is, against Iloilo Fourth District Board Member Ferjenel Biron courtesy of his baby bill, the Lower House version of the Cheaper Medicines Bill.
Thank or no thanks to the prohibition set against doctors prescribing a branded medicine, Representative Biron made it in the news Sunday – in and out, literally too, – of national daily, Philippine Star. For weeks now, similar talks likewise abound in coffee shops, various local stations, local news outlets and within the Ilonggo medical community roused and divided by the issue.
A front page Philippine Star story carried the apparent change of tune and stance of the Ilonggo solon on the "Generics-only" provision. The news item reported that Biron, the principal author of the Cheaper Medicine Bill "has assured doctors that a proviso banning the naming of branded medicine on prescriptions can be deleted anytime."
In fact, the Ilonggo solon in yet another interview by Bombo Radyo Iloilo 'blamed' a colleague,
South Cotobato Representative Arthur Pinggoy, as the one behind the now controversial insertion. Biron in addressing the controversy was further quoted telling reporters in the weekly "Balitaan" in Quezon City, "the price regulation provision, not the generic provision, is the salient feature of the Cheaper Medicine Bill."
Not quite so, Philippine Star columnist William Esposo wrote in Sunday's "As I Wreck This Chair" column. Titled "Meet your new, legalized big-time neighborhood drug pusher," Esposo lengthily wrote about the controversies surrounding the Cheaper Medicine Bill.
Taking off from "Detective Hercule Poiroit," the central character of famous crime writer Agatha Christie, Esposo laid down the premise of his column.
"In the controversial 'GENERICS ONLY' provision of the House Cheaper Medicines Bill, lo and behold – there emerged an identified profiteer."
"Big questions are being raised on the alleged primary author of the 'GENERICS ONLY' provision of the Cheaper Medicines Bill in the House of Representatives – Representative Ferjenel Biron of Iloilo. Biron made his millions importing cheap medicines from India and Pakistan and even now continues to do so," Esposo began. "Biron is sharp at spotting opportunity. When some local Indians forgot to renew the name of their organization – the Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce – Biron reportedly promptly sought SEC approval for the name. This gave him trading leverage to import drugs from India."
Esposo went ahead to discuss what he supposedly gathered as Biron's shift to China "to downplay the Indian card." It was here that Iloilo Vice Governor Rolex Suplico's name was mentioned as "another principal actor" with Esposo stating that the Vice Governor is the supposed vice-chair of Biron's Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce.
The column then went ahead to lash at Biron while decrying the issues hurled against doctors "painted so unfairly as beholden to pharmaceutical companies who sponsor their participation in medical convention abroad."
"This happens even to the best of media practitioners. When a conference overseas happens to be a legitimate media event, media often accepts the invitation, no strings attached," Esposo wrote. "Obviously, the House Bill will want to make it easy for cheap imported drugs to flood the market especially when there is hefty profit to be made. What better way than to prohibit doctors from prescribing branded medicine? This, after all, is business. Who said that this was about people's health and safety?"
In conclusion, Esposo wrote, "We must prevent the House drug mafia from pushing their agenda. Let's not be lulled into complacency by the DOH claim that it is withdrawing the controversial provision."
It was only months back when Biron was credited for exposing supposed lobby money of drug companies against the Cheaper Medicine Bill. Hailed as the "leading advocate" on affordable medicines, Biron in various interviews with national media even disclosed what he claimed were attempts for "subtle lobbying by the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP), which also represented giant foreign drug companies that operated in the country."
"Their manner is very subtle," Biron said in an Inquirer news item. "They would politely ask if they could invite me for lunch or dinner or if they could visit me in my office. But I told them that it's too late because they didn't lower the prices of their medicines," he said. The PHAP has consistently denied bribing lawmakers.