Broadcast journalist Alvin Elchico will examine how the government has implemented the pro-poor Cheaper Medicines Act and if it has been beneficial to Filipinos since its ratification four years ago this Thursday (July 5) in “Krusada.”

Since it was passed into law in 2008, many consumer groups have rendered the act useless, noting that prices of some medicines have not yet gone down.

“Filipinos sacrifice a lot of things when they are sick. If they find it hard to buy food for their families, how much more if they are ill?” asked Alvin.

Based on research, seven in every ten Filipinos have economic difficulties to purchase their medication. One of them is 21-year old Maris Escototo who suffers from lupus nephritis, a kidney disease that weakens the immune system. Aside from dialysis, she needs to pay for medicines that cost over P11,000 every month.

Are several provisions in the Cheaper Medicines Act defective? Has the government efficiently implemented the law that is supposed to aid the poor?

Because it takes more than words to take a stand, watch “Krusada” with Alvin this Thursday (July 5) after “Bandila” on ABS-CBN or watch it earlier on DZMM TeleRadyo (SkyCable Channel 26), 9:15 p.m.