Hepatitis C Blog
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The Cost of Hep C Treatment in the Philippines
The Cost of Hepatitis C Treatment in the Philippines
The cost of Hepatitis C treatment in the Philipines is relatively cheap by Western standards because generic Hep C medicines are available from Pharmacies in the Philippines, with a doctor’s prescription.
For example a 12 weeks treatment with Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir will cost between US$700 and US$900 depending on where you buy it from.
The Real Price Of Hep C Meds in the Philippines
At first glance people from the USA or Europe may think “Wow, that’s great!” but in reality, it is not great.
The average wage in the Philippines is about US$50 per week. Many people earn much less than that. For example, a construction worker may earn only around US$30 per week.
So for a person on the average wage in the Philippines, the cost of a 12-week Hep C treatment would be about 4 months’ wages.
When you add to this that most people on the average wage in the Philippines have no spare money out of their wages for saving, you see that raising US$700 for Hep C treatment is going to be very, very difficult.
Michael de Mesa Filipino movie star and Hep C advocate who was cured of Hep C with generic Hepatitis C medicines
Mylan’s Generic Hep C medicine in the Philippines
Mylan is a US pharmaceutical giant that makes a large lump of its vast profits out of making generic medication. Mylan has factories in India and makes generic medication there, including generic Hep C drugs, which are sold throughout Asia and the rest of the world.
Last year Mylan reached an agreement with the Philippines government to sell its generic Hep C medicines there. Interestingly they used one of the Philippines ‘ most famous movie stars, Michael de Mesa, to promote the arrival of generic Mylan Hep C meds.
Michael is an exceptional Filipino because he is one of the few celebrities to go public about his Hep C infection and subsequent cure. Michael has been a great Hep C advocate in the Philippines.
My own relationship with Michael de Mesa is that I supplied him with generic Hep C medicine from India back in 2016.
Michael was fortunate in that he had good medical support and an informed doctor and could also easily afford the price of the generic Hepatitis C medicine that I organized for him.
However, the majority of Filipinos with Hepatitis C are not so fortunate. Even the price of Mylan’s generic Hep C treatment is very high for Filipinos with Hep C. Most will struggle to find enough money to be able to afford the basic Hepatitis C tests like a viral load test or a genotype test. Finding the money to buy Mylan’s generic Harvoni or generic Sofosbuvir plus Daclatasvir will most often involve going into debt with local money lenders.
Low-Cost Hepatitis C Treatment in the Philippines
It is for the above reason that I began my program of supplying low-priced Hepatitis C medicine in the Philippines. Whilst buying generic Hep C treatment from a pharmacist in the Philippines will cost about US$800 (around 39,000 pesos) I will supply the same treatment for 15,000 pesos (around US$300) including the shipping.
How can I supply Hepatitis C treatment so cheaply in the Philippines?
The reason is very simple, I put people before profits. Because of the economic situation in the Philippines, I am happy to supply Hepatitis C medication at my cost price.
Yet despite this very few Filipinos are aware that they can buy the Hep C medicines at such, relatively low prices. The reason for this is that the news media does not ever cover this subject matter. Whilst Mylan is able to spend a small fortune promoting the launch of its generic Hep C treatments I must rely of news being spread by word of mouth because the news media in the Philippines will not cover the important issue of the cost of Hep C treatment and the devastating effects that untreated Hep C has on Filipinos and the Philippines economy.
Recently I sent press releases to various Philippines news media groups and prominent journalists. I did not get even one response.
And so it is that situations arise where doctors tell their patients not to use generic Hep C meds imported from India but to buy the local Mylan product, even though it is made in India and almost triple the price.
Bad Treatment Advice from a Filipino Doctor
Below is a conversation thread I had with a Filipino whose mother needed Hep C treatment. Even though he wanted to get her medication through my Hep C Buyers’ Club his mother’s doctor persuaded her not to allow it. Instead, they had to use their savings to buy exactly the same product for triple the price from their local pharmacy.
Conversation Thread
You sent Today at 2:00 PM
Could you please tell me what you paid for the Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir?
Tony sent Today at 3:59 PM
800$ u.s dollar = 39,000 pesos for 3 months of Hep C treatment here in Philippines
I said to the doctor that i want to purchase from you cuz the cost 50% much cheaper.
You sent Today at 4:00 PM
Why didn’t you get it from me? Its only 15,000 pesos for exactly the same?
Tony sent Today at 4:03 PM
I told the dr. That can i buy the Hep C medicine from india? Cuz someone in the hep c community will help us and it cost cheaper. The doctor reply no! Just buy it locally. 
You sent Today at 4:03 PM
Look at the boxes… they were all made in India and imported… The doctor probably made a nice profit
Tony sent Today at 4:05 PM
Yeah… she was so curious that where i got any info about the hep c drugs. Cuz i already know the medicine without telling us first
You sent Today at 4:05 PM
May I ask what your monthly income is?
Tony sent Today at 4:06 PM
Hmm usual is about US300$ a month But due to pandemic it become US160$
You sent Today at 4:07 PM
It makes me very sad that you have paid double the correct price for these medicines!!!
Tony sent Today at 4:09 PM
I try convince my mother so much to buy from india… but she want to follow the doctor’s orders.
Tony sent Today at 4:09 PM
I don’t have the credentials to convince her. So sad.Tony sent Today at 4:09 PM
You help many Filipinos. Thank you so much for that sir.
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© 2014-2022 Greg Jefferys - Hepatitis C Treatment Club. Compiled by BSP Corporate.
You have a great soul and heart Greg!
God bless you!
Hello Sir greg.I am suffering HCV as of now.I was diagnosed last month.And my schedule for my laboratory is on this coming January 2022,Which is made more upset.
Just send me an email Marcy and I will do what I can to help you
I am Godofreda d. Amper the mother of Ezekiel d. Amper.My son was diagnosed hep c last june cuz of poverty until now he has.not taken yet his medication …pls. help us..thank you
Please write me and email and I will see what I can do to help
Hello greg can I ask for tpur email address
Why does the Philippine media not want to help it’s own citizens. So sad.
Unfortunately the mainstream media does not seem to be interested in the Hepatitis C pandemic
Hi Greg
My brother David lives in the Philippines and just lives on his part pension he get from Australia
I want to help him get medication for Hep C that he has had for over 30 years
can you advise me and him on how we can do this
I have a small about of money that I can help with the purchase of the meds
Hi Dianne
I totally understand your brother’s situation as I have close family connections and many Aussie friends in the Philippines. If you just send me an email I can explain the process to you
Hi Greg,
I wonder how can I avail of this med?
Please write to me by email and I will do what ever I can to help you with this.
Please include what country you live in and what Hep C tests you have had
best wishes
Greg
Interested and living in another country. Is this the same as Sovaldi? The price is high here in the US. This is for a young boy. Pls give details. Thank you
Hi Cha
Sovaldi is the brand name for the drug Sofosbuvir. Sovaldi is rarely used in isolation now days, it is combined with another drug. For example Harvoni is Sovaldi + Ledipasvir and Epclusa is Sovaldi + Velpatasvir
hi greg can you help me how to avail your med for hep c
Hi Elvis
Yes I can certainly help you with getting Hep C medication.
Could you tell me which country you live in? I need to know this as different countries have different rules for importing Hep C medicines
Best wishes
Greg