Gov’t must coordinate with drug firms to address medicine shortage issue — Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo discusses the country’s issues during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL on January 9. (Screengrab from RMN DZXL Facebook page.)

MANILA, Philippines — The government should coordinate with pharmaceutical firms  and drugstore owners to address the supposed shortage of certain over-the -counter medicines, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Sunday.

“Dapat ‘yung pamahalaan nakikipag-ugnayan na sa mga pharmacies, sa mga drugstore owners, mga drug companies kung papa’no mape-prevent itong pagkukulang na ‘to,” Robredo said during the BISErbisyong LENI program on DZXL.

(The government should coordinate with pharmacies, drugstore owners, and drug companies  to address the shortage.)

The Department of Health and the Department of Trade and Industry have earlier denied medicine shortage reports.

Robredo, however, said that the incidents of shortage are experiential.

“Mayroon pang statement na hindi totoo na nagkakaubusan pero kahit mag-statement tayo na hindi totoong nagkakaubusan, siyempre experiential ‘yun,” she pointed out.

(There were statements that reported shortage is not true but even if we issue such statements, it is experiential.)

Earlier, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines noted that some areas are experiencing a temporary shortage of certain brands of paracetamol amid a surge in demand.

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