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The 2020 Edition of the Drug Price Reference Index (DPRI) is a product of
hard work and dedication of the Department of Health (DOH) Pharmaceutical
Division Headed by Anna Melissa S. Guerrero, MD, MPH (HTA), team efforts of the
System Support Unit supervised by Ms Vanessa J. Saulog – Obera, and led by Mr.
Achilles V. Aragona together with the team members namely: Mr. Christian M.
Villostas, Mr. John Lester M. Custodio, Ms. Geny C. Belmonte, Mr. Jacob P.
Manahan, Mr. Jaldrin Ivan M. Bunag and Mr. Christian Joel M. Tambong
Special thanks also to all NDP Compliance Officers and EDPMS Helpdesk
who aided in the implementation of the DPRI and to the DOH-Pharmaceutical
Division family. All DOH Retained / Specialty Hospitals and Centers for Health
Development (CHDs) for contributing their data to the Department of Health.
The high and extreme variable prices of medicines in the Philippines impact
on access to effective, efficient and equitable health care. In 2009, a study
conducted by Health Action International revealed that there was extreme variability
in the procurement prices of essential medicines across the national and local public
health facilities in the country. On average, originator brands and generic
equivalents were procured almost 16 times and 3 times higher, respectively,
compared to prices available on the international market.1
The DPRI lists the ceiling prices of essential medicines for government
bidding and procurement set by the DOH for all National and Local Government
Health Facilities and Government Agencies. Winning bid prices of essential
medicines within the DPRI ceiling reflect efficient and effective procurement in the
government. Their transparency and enforcement ensure consumer access to
medicines and protection from excessive price mark-ups on medicines.
_________________________________
1 Douglas B, Tisocki K (2009) Public Procurement Prices of Medicines in the Philippines. Health Action International.
The data coming from reputable suppliers are only considered in the database which means that they should be licensed by the
Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have certificate of Good Manufacturing Practice issued by the FDA.
The DPRI only reflects the acquisition costs including landed cost,
packaging, drug content, quality assurance, manufacturing overheads and Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) fees. The DPRI excludes other costs such as pharmacy
services, preparation and storage fees, and other reasonable pharmacy mark-ups,
which are now being evaluated by the DOH.
The DPRI is computed based on the prevailing tender prices of the previous
year (2019) reflected in the actual Purchase Orders (POs) submitted by the DOH
Retained Hospitals, Centers for Health Development (CHDs), Central Office Bids
and Awards Committee (COBAC) and Philippine Pharma Procurement Inc. (PPPI)
to the DOH.
The reference price is set at the Median or the 50th percentile across the
range of prevailing tender prices of essential medicines for each preparation and
strength. However, for drugs and medicines with two entries, for patented drugs and
medicines and with limited competition the reference price was set to lowest. Health
facilities may add an allowable margin up to 10% to account for the inflation.
The DPRI is updated annually. All DOH hospitals and CHDs submit a copy
of their latest Purchase Orders to the DOH Pharmaceutical Division for annual
collection and analysis of price data. The updated DPRI is based on the procurement
price data of medicines from the previous year.
Who can use the Maximum Price Range use in the Calculation of DPRI?
In case where the latest DPRI published has no reference price available for
certain essential medicines, government health facilities and agencies may do any
of the following options in compliance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184 or the Government Procurement Act:
The facility may utilize the previous year’s awarded price as an approved
budget for the contract (ABC).
The procuring entity may conduct a market survey and use the cheapest
price in the market.
In case of failed biddings, provision of RA 9184 and its IRR shall be applied.
All procuring entities are advised to submit the list of medicines that resulted in bid
failure to the DOH-PD. The report should comply the template provided by DOH-PD
which can be downloaded at their website at www.dpri.doh.gov.ph.
* The Reference Price was based on the DOH COBAC Procurement Price 2019
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
* The Reference Price was based on the DOH COBAC Procurement Price 2019
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
* The Reference Price was based on the DOH COBAC Procurement Price 2019
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
* The Reference Price was based on the DOH COBAC Procurement Price 2019
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
●
The Reference Price was based on the proposed list price of the pharmaceutical company upon its inclusion in the Philippine
National Formulary (excluded from the maximum 10% inflationary cost)
* The Reference Price was based on the DOH COBAC Procurement Price 2019
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
●
The Reference Price was based on the proposed list price of the pharmaceutical company upon its inclusion in the Philippine
National Formulary (excluded from the maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
●
The Reference Price was based on the proposed list price of the pharmaceutical company upon its inclusion in the Philippine
National Formulary (excluded from the maximum 10% inflationary cost)
* The Reference Price was based on the DOH COBAC Procurement Price 2019
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the maximum 10%
inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
The Reference Price was based on the Maximum Wholesale Price (MWP) plus Value-Added-Tax (VAT) (excluded from the
maximum 10% inflationary cost)
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation
Health facilities may have a price variation up to 10% above the DPRI to account for inflation