DESPITE THE Generics Drugs Act of 1988, the cost of medicines in the Philippines had been absurdly and atrociously high all because retailers have filled their appetites with unimaginable mark-ups to the prejudice of the indigents. By the time a medicine reaches a Filipino patient, its price has been inflated by as many as five separate markups totaling as much as 273% above what the manufacturer originally charged — before a 12% value-added tax is...