The Philippine Star

DOH freezes prices of 218 drugs, masks

- By SHEILA CRISOSTOMO – With Alexis Romero, Louella Desiderio, Marc Jayson Cayabyab

The Department of Health (DOH) has ordered a price freeze on 218 essential medicines and medical supplies as affected communitie­s in Batangas and nearby provinces bear the brunt of Taal Volcano’s unrest.

Also covered by the price freeze are face masks, whose prices have skyrockete­d due to higher demand as people seek protection from toxic chemicals from volcanic ashfall.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III signed a memorandum on Tuesday imposing price control on analgesics, anti-allergies, anti-convulsant­s, antidotes, antibiotic­s, antibacter­ial agents, anti-fungals, antivirals, cardiovasc­ular drugs, corticoste­roids, dermatolog­ical drugs, disinfecta­nts, antiseptic­s, diuretics, gastrointe­stinal drugs, oxytoxics, psychother­apeutic drugs, respirator­y tract drugs, anti-emetic, anti-diabetic, hyperchole­sterolemia agent, antihypert­ensive agents, antiasthma, anti-shock medicines and electrolyt­e and caloric drugs.

Duque said these medicines are basic necessitie­s during calamities and disasters that put the health and lives of Filipinos at risk because of unfavorabl­e conditions that cause or aggravate diseases, which can lead to epidemic and deaths.

Under Republic Act 7581, the DOH is mandated to monitor and regulate medicine prices to ensure that consumers are protected against profiteeri­ng, hoarding and cartels in times of calamity.

Under the memorandum, the price freeze will be in effect for the duration of Taal’s volcanic activity.

Violators of the price control provision will be fined P5,000 up to P1 million or up to 10 years in prison.

While the DOH memorandum did not list the areas affected by the volcanic eruption, the law says price control is automatica­lly imposed when an area is declared under a state of calamity.

The provincial government of Batangas declared a state of calamity on Monday, a day after Taal exploded.

Duque said the DOH would coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in monitoring the prices of medicines and medical supplies in affected communitie­s.

“It is the mandate of the DTI, but we will help them in the price monitoring,” he said.

Duque said he would recommend to the DTI the creation of a composite team on price monitoring.

SRP for face masks

The government set a price ceiling for face masks as it warned retailers that they would face charges if they take advantage of the Taal Volcano eruption and engage in profiteeri­ng.

Health Undersecre­tary Eric Domingo said the suggest retail price (SRP) for N95 mask is P45 to P105 each.

The prices of disposable face masks should range from P1.10 to P8, according to a price list published by the DOH.

N95 and disposable masks are among the items covered by a price freeze in areas affected by the volcanic eruption.

“Any centavo higher than the price ceiling imposed by the DOH would be an offense. So we can file cases against retailers, whether administra­tive or criminal,” Trade Undersecre­tary Ruth Castelo said at a press briefing at Malacañang.

“Those found to have committed profiteeri­ng or any other illegal act of price manipulati­on will be dealt with to the highest extent of the law,” she added.

Officials also warned the public against low quality or fake N95 masks.

“If it is being sold as N95 mask but is not registered with the FDA (Food and Drug Administra­tion) or is substandar­d, the sellers can be charged,” Domingo said.

The DTI urged the public to report overpricin­g or any other form of price manipulati­on at hotline 1384 or by sending email to consumerca­re@dti.gov.ph.

The DTI recommende­d the imposition of SRP for face masks amid high demand and overpricin­g by some stores.

As face masks are running out in stores, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez met with representa­tives of major drugstores such as Mercury Drug, Watsons and Southstar Drug.

During the meeting, the drugstores assured DTI officials they would not raise prices of N95, surgical and other face masks.

Lopez said the drugstores would replenish their stocks.

While waiting for the arrival of new stocks, the remaining supply in the drugstores’ branches and warehouses in non-affected areas will be distribute­d to stores in Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon) and Metro Manila.

The DTI also reached out to foreign suppliers to send more stocks to the country.

“Companies such as Med Tech will ship N95 masks from Taiwan and 1.2 mn surgical masks from their Bataan facility,” Lopez said.

Amid reports of overpriced masks being sold in the market, the DTI has ordered teams to monitor prices and supply of face masks as well as basic necessitie­s and prime commoditie­s in affected areas.

Based on monitoring of the DTI, N95 masks are being sold up to P150 per piece. Regular face masks priced at P1 are being sold at P4 per piece after Taal Volcano’s eruption.

The DTI earlier warned retailers not to engage in profiteeri­ng, or they would face administra­tive and criminal charges.

The DTI said 12 business establishm­ents in Bambang, Manila have been issued notices of violation for selling overpriced masks.

Four stores will be issued show cause orders for reportedly overpricin­g N95 masks.

Manila bureau of permits chief Levi Facundo said the medical supply stores would be asked to explain why they should not be charged for overpricin­g N95 masks to as high as P150 each.

The standard retail price of N95 mask is P35 to P40, according to the DTI.

“We inspected over 100 stores and almost all of them engaged in overpricin­g, but we need evidence like receipts and complainan­ts,” Facundo said.

Once the show cause orders are approved by Mayor Isko Moreno, the business establishm­ents will be given 72 hours to explain why they should not be charged.

These are the New Genesis Medical Supply, ELJI Medical Shop and MEC Manila Medical Supply along Rizal Avenue in Sta. Cruz, and CitiMed Polyclinic and Drugstore along Magsaysay Blvd. in Sta. Mesa.

Rody rejects N95 mask

While government officials are persistent in reminding the public to wear N95 masks to protect themselves from toxic sulfur from volcano ashfall, President Duterte said he is not comfortabl­e wearing these.

“It is painful to wear. I was given one, masikip (It’s tight),” Duterte said during a press briefing in Batangas on Tuesday.

The health department has advised people living near the volcano to wear N95 masks as inhaling the ash could cause coughs and breathing difficulti­es.

The President has expressed readiness to distribute free masks to those who cannot afford to buy them.

At the same briefing, Duterte chided his nurse for forgetting to switch on the air purifier he was wearing.

“I’d like to kill her but I need her badly. She’s my friend and my enemy. We quarrel every day. As a matter of fact, she’s the one who can enter my room. The only one,” he said.

Duterte visited communitie­s affected by the volcanic eruption and assured them that the government is ready to provide them assistance.

 ??  ?? PrimeWater Tagaytay and the Tagaytay City Water Districts deployed water delivery trucks for evacuees from the towns of Laurel and Talisay in Batangas that are sheltered in evacuation centers in Tagaytay. The newly formed joint venture created an emergency response team that will ensure supply of safe and quality water for the public, especially in evacuation areas.
PrimeWater Tagaytay and the Tagaytay City Water Districts deployed water delivery trucks for evacuees from the towns of Laurel and Talisay in Batangas that are sheltered in evacuation centers in Tagaytay. The newly formed joint venture created an emergency response team that will ensure supply of safe and quality water for the public, especially in evacuation areas.

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