ABSTRACT

Title

HIGHLIGHTING THE SIGNIFICANT RELATIONSHIP OF THE CHEAPER MEDICINES ACT AND PURCHASING BEHAVIOUR AMONG PATRONS IN TAYUMAN, STA. CRUZ, MANILA CABRERA, Mary Grace A. ESTRELLA, Alyza Jean D.L. RICAFRANCA, Annesty G. TORREFLORES, Roxanne C. VALENCIA, Marianne T. 2012 Polytechnic University of the Philippines Gloria J. Tolentino- Baysa, Ed.D., CPA Bachelor of Science in Accountancy

Researchers :

Year School Adviser Degree

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This research aimed to highlight the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 (Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008) RA9502 by evaluating its impact on the consumers in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Moreover, this research sought to factor-in the profile of the respondents, the Cheaper Medicines Act, the purchasing behavior, the problems encountered and the proposed solutions, and any significant difference among variables. The researchers primarily utilized survey questionnaire to gather the needed information. The researchers used the descriptive method of research to depict the nature of a condition, as it existed at the time of the study. The respondents included the patrons of the Cheaper Medicines Act in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila. There were a total of 30 respondents of the study. The data were ordered, tallied and tabulated to facilitate the presentation, and interpretation of results using Frequency and Percentage, Ranking, Weighted Mean, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), and Likert Scale.

Statement of the Problem This research aimed to highlight the Universally Accessible Cheaper and Quality Medicines Act of 2008 (Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008) RA9502 by evaluating its impact on the consumers in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Moreover, this research sought to factor-in the profile of the respondents, the Cheaper Medicines Act, purchasing behaviour, and problems encountered and proposed solutions, and any significant difference among variables. Specifically, the study endeavored to answer the following: 1.0 What is the profile of the patrons of Cheaper Medicines Act in Tayuman, Sta.

Cruz, Manila terms of the following 1.1 Age; 1.2 Sex; 1.3 Civil Status; 1.4 Highest Educational Attainment; 1.5 No. of Economic Dependent; 1.6 Estimated Monthly Income; 1.7 Occupational status? 2.0 How do the respondents perceive the Cheaper Medicines Act in terms of the following: 2.1 Awareness; 2.2 Affordability of Medicines; 2.3 Availability of Medicines; 2.4 Branding; 2.5 Health Support System? 3.0 How do the following factors affect the purchasing behaviour of the respondents

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3.1 Attitude on Quality; 3.2 Attitude on Prices; 3.3 Influence; 3.4 Financial Capability? 4.0 What are the problems encountered and proposed solutions thereto? 5.0 Is there a significant relationship between the profile of the respondents and their view regarding: 5.1 Cheaper Medicines Act; and 5.2Purchasing Behaviour?

Summary of Findings Based on the analysis and interpretation of the data gathered, findings arrived in the study are: 1.0 Respondents profile Findings showed that out of 30 respondents, 60.00% fell under the bracket of 2035 years of age dominated by male which was 53.00% of the total respondents and 50.00 % were single. Fifty percent (57.00%) of the respondents were bachelors degree holder. The respondents were dominated by respondents with 0-1 dependent of 56.67% with the income below 12000 (37.00%). Lastly, 73.00 % of the total respondents were employed. 2.0 Respondents view on the Cheaper Medicines Act Using weighted mean, with all the variables used in obtaining the view of the respondents with regards to their awareness, a grand weighted mean of 4.10 was obtained, 4.29 as to affordability of medicines, 3.82 as to availability of medicines, 4.09 as to branding and 3.98 for health support system. 3.0 Respondents view on their Purchasing Behavior

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Using weighted mean, with all the variables used in obtaining the view of the respondents with regards to their attitude on quality, a grand weighted mean of 3.92 was obtained, 3.99 was obtained as to attitude on prices, 4.18 was obtained as to its influence, and 3.83 was obtained as to their financial capability. 4.0 Problems encountered and proposed solutions Using weighted mean, with all the variables used in obtaining the view of the respondents with regards to problems encountered, a grand weighted mean of 4.08 was obtained and with regards to proposed solutions, a grand weighted mean of 4.62 was obtained. 5.0 Difference between respondents profile and lead variables With regards to the Cheaper Medicines Act and purchasing behavior, there is no significant to the availability of medicines, branding, health support system, attitude on quality, attitude on price and influence resulting to the acceptance of null hypothesis (Ho). This is evidenced by the F-tabular values of 2.946685, 2.946685, 3.238872, 3.238872, 3.008787, and 2.946685 respectively that are greater than the F- ratios of 2.623685, 0.889037, 1.181588, 0.512857, 0.829835 and 2.79507. The difference between the respondents sex is not significant to the awareness, affordability of medicine, availability of medicines, branding, health support system, attitude on quality, attitude on prices, influence and financial capability resulting to the acceptance of null hypothesis (Ho). This is evidenced by the F-tabular values of 4.747225, 4.747225, 4.60011, 4.60011, 5.317655, 5.317655, 4.747225, and 4.60011, respectively that are greater than the F- ratios of 0.105586, 0.34092, 0.446679, 0.046032, 0.1016, 0.002922, 0.304047, and 1.2307. The difference between the respondents civil status is not significant to the availability of medicines, attitude on quality, attitude on prices, influence and financial capability resulting to the acceptance of null hypothesis (Ho). This is evidenced by the F-

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tabular values of 3.4668, 3.88529, 3.55456, 3.4668, and 3.35413 respectively that are greater than the F- ratios of 0.270553, 0.34212, 0.99356, 1.66342, and 3.00923. The difference between the respondents highest educational attainment is not significant to the accounting concepts and policies, accounting procedures, business forms, taxes and regulatory compliance, financial reports, sales transactions, cash receipts transactions, purchase transactions, inventory management, standard operating procedures, and payroll transactions. This is evidenced by the F-tabular values of 4.4940, 4.1132, 4.7472, 4.3177, 4.7472, 4.9646, 4.7472, 4.9646, 4.4139, 4.9646, and 4.4940 respectively that are greater than the F- ratios of 1.0000, 0.3682, 0.6457, 0.0018, 0.4447, 0.1538, 0.7262, 0.1589, 0.1739, 0.0793, and 0.0064. The difference between respondents no. of economic dependent is not significant to the awareness, availability of medicines, branding, health support system, attitude on quality, and influence resulting to the acceptance of null hypothesis (Ho). This is evidenced by the F-tabular values of 3.008787, 2.946685, 2.946685, 3.238872, 3.238872, and 2.946685 respectively that are greater than the F- ratios of 1.598374, 1.409985, 0.401077, 0.981966, 0.755732 and 1.032704. The difference between the respondents estimated monthly income is not significant to awareness, affordability of medicines, availability of medicines, branding, health support system, and attitude on quality resulting to the acceptance of null hypothesis (Ho). This is evidenced by the F-tabular values of 0.923523, 2.689628, 2.641465, 2.641465, 2.866081 and 2.866081 respectively that are greater than the Fratios of 0.923523, 2.617392, 0.383176, 0.758596, 2.135116 and 0.822804. The difference between the respondents occupational status is not significant to the awareness, availability of medicines, health support system, attitude on quality and influence resulting to the acceptance of null hypothesis (Ho). This is evidenced by the F-

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tabular values of 3.554557, 3.4668, 3.885294, 3.885294, and 3.4668 respectively that are greater than the F- ratios of 0.973581, 0.86477, 0.385877, 0.128674, and 0.549968.

Conclusions In the light of the findings presented and under the condition in which the study was conducted, the researchers arrived at the following conclusions: 1.0 Respondents profile Most of the respondents belong to the age bracket of 20 to 35 years old. It also shows that male respondents dominate female respondents and most of them are single respondents. Most respondents are bachelors, with 0 to 1 dependents, an income below 12 000 and employed. 2. 0 Respondents view on the Cheaper Medicines Act All respondents agree on the Cheaper Medicines Act as a whole. This is evidenced by an average weighted mean of 4.056. 3.0 Respondents view on their purchasing behavior All respondents agree on their purchasing behavior as a whole. This is evidenced by an average weighted mean of 3.98. 4.0 Problems encountered and proposed solutions Respondents agreed on the problems encountered regarding Cheaper Medicines Act and purchasing behavior. Also, the respondents strongly agree that the proposed solutions are appropriate for the problems regarding the Cheaper Medicines Act and purchasing behavior. 5.0 Difference between respondents profile and the lead variables The results reveal that there is a significant difference between age and awareness, affordability of medicines and financial capability. There is a significant

difference between the sex and financial capability. There is also a significant difference between the civil status and affordability of medicines, branding, and health support system. There is also a significant relationship between highest educational attainment and awareness, attitude on prices and financial capability. There is also a significant difference between the number of economic dependent and availability of medicines, influence, and financial capability. There is a significant influence between estimated monthly income and attitude on prices, influence and financial capability. Moreover, there is a significant difference between occupational status and the affordability of medicines, branding, attitude on prices, financial capability.

Recommendations After a thorough analysis of data, the following recommendations are hereby made: The Department of Health has to do regular monitoring of the progress of the Cheaper Medicines Act or RA9502. Accordingly, there should be strict implementation of regular promotion and advertisement of the use of generic medicines. Proper dissemination of information regarding essentials medicines included in the Philippine National Drug Formulary is necessary. Moreover, advertisements of private companies for branded medicines should be regulated. The government should provide enough jobs in the Philippines to ensure that the recipients of the law will be capable of purchasing affordable and quality medicines, thereby ensuring the promotion of health in the country. Also, the government needs to ensure that there are accessible generic drug outlets in different places. In addition there should be an equal and proper distribution of medicines and to assure that there are sufficient supplies of essential of medicines.

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The researchers would like to recommend further study to be done by the future researchers regarding RA 9502 or Cheaper Medicines Act. Additionally, further knowledge and enhancement may be obtained with respect to the implementation of the law.

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