By BEHN FER. HORTALEZA, JR.

THERE are today two advocacies every Pinoy whose heart and mind are in the right place should take up with great consistency for the community’s health

First, the government move to import cheaper-priced medicines from India or other source countries as espoused by the PITC and against the profit-driven opposition of some giant multinational pharmaceutical companies; and,

Second, the government’s implementation of the Milk Code under Executive Order No. 51 limiting the marketing of infant milk formulas and requiring companies, again, mostly multinationals, to put labels in their products warning of possible health hazards.

If you’ve been reading the news, there’s a raging issue on the Milk Code with our provincemate in the Cabinet, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque, no less, taking exception to the “observation” of the United States Chamber of Commerce about the Code’s adverse effect to the multinationals’ businesses.

Unless you’re part of these big, smart-alecky multinationals, drawing pay from them or having one way or the other a relative connected with them or you’re plain indifferent, it is easy to find affinity with the “gut” importance of these two causes. Hopefully, as the issue rages, many others will be joining the campaign to give developing nations like ours a break from the selfish motives of foreign mother companies.

It is time people of the Third World speak up and act against blackmailing multinationals that try, under guise of “expert” technical concern, to prevent government from finding practical means to help ease their people’s health-related burdens.

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These two – importation of cheaper-priced but similarly effective medicines from other source countries against the tantrums of drug companies like Pfizer and others; and the regulation of advertising and distribution of breastmilk substitutes (infant formula) and other related products, including bottles and teats – will greatly redound to better health and health care for Filipinos, spanning all ages, from the elderly and sick to the newly-born and growing.

Many other countries have awakened to the need for self-direction in matters of health and environment for their people; the Philippines can do no less.

Realizing this growing trend, affected multinational companies are using their massive and well-oiled marketing and promotions machines to “brainwash” unwary mothers and children into almost unconsciously adopting their high-priced brand products — and setting aside natural and cheaper alternatives. But they know the end of their stranglehold on our Oriental mind is fast loosening.

We do wish we can create some trend, some following, in these advocacies among our community newspapers. It is the only way we can fight back from being enslaved by the siren song of the multinationals. Really, it is time we refuse to allow profit-driven multinationals to dupe us and dictate how we should think – and act.