In a round table discussion in Malacanang on Thursday, Arroyo said the program could include any drugstore willing to sell commonly used medicine at cheaper prices.
"The reason why we asked the Philippine International Trading Corporation to purchase these cheap medicines is because we want to make sure any drugstore can have it," the President explained during the forum that included Makati Rep. Teddy Locsin, PITC Undersecretary Elson Rivera and housewife Malou Hormigos.
The PITC also imports cheap medicine from India.
"India sells to the poor world so they are reputable," the president pointed out as she stressed that cheaper medicine is not simply a "placebo".
She said she cannot comprehend why medicine in the country in 2001 were quite expensive when only five percent are patented and 95 percent are off-patents.
The president said she wants the commonly used medicine by the poor such as those for colds and cough, hypertension and pulmonary diseases, among others, to be sold at half-the-price of 2001 by the end of her term in 2010.
There are now 1,283 Botika sa Bayan and 7,430 Botika sa Barangay established nationwide by the Arroyo administration.
