DoH orders price freeze on medical supplies in areas hit by Taal eruption
Credit to Author: Jan Arcilla| Date: Wed, 15 Jan 2020 04:46:31 +0000
THE Department of Health (DoH) has ordered a price freeze on face masks, nebulizers and other medicine in areas affected by Taal volcano’s eruption.
In a department memorandum, Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said that the DoH was mandated to monitor and regulate drug prices, as well as ensure that consumers are “adequately protected” against “profiteering, hoarding, cartels, and the like” that compromises their access to essential pharmaceutical products.
Among the items under price cap oder are paracetamols, antihistamines, antibiotics, dextrose fluids, and disposable face masks, which reportedly became expensive as Filipinos geared up against Taal’s ashfall.
“Essential medicines have been identified as a basic necessity especially in times of natural calamities and man-made disasters that put the health and lives of Filipinos at risk because of unfavorable conditions that may lead to epidemics or massive deaths,” Duque said.
“Unless otherwise lifted by the President, it shall remain in effect for the duration of the situation,” it added.
Reports said that N95 masks were being sold at P85 to P150 per piece, when delivery receipts showed them at P65 per piece.
Regular surgical masks which normally sold at P1 each were also being sold at P3.60 per piece, and a box of 50 pieces normally sold at P50 was found to be selling at P180.
The state seismology bureau raised Alert Level 4 over Taal on Sunday night after the volcano showed signs of activity when it spewed ash and smoke, blanketing most of Batangas and spreading to other provinces in Calabarzon, Metro Manila and Central Luzon.
Taal volcano remained at alert level 4 as of Wednesday.