Bishop denounces ‘greed’ of drug hoarders: ‘It’s not just you who wants to live’

FILE PHOTO: Facade of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP)in Intramuros, Manila City. INQUIRER/RUDY ESPERAS

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic Bishop Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) bishop denounced the “greed” of those who hoard drugs like paracetamol.

“It is greedy to buy a large number of medicine. Please don’t do it,” said Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio of CBCP’s Commission on Healthcare over Radio Veritas on Monday.

“If we don’t need that much, don’t buy that many drugs. It is not just you, who wants to live,” he added.

There were recent reports of a shortage of flu-like medicines like paracetamol amid the increase of COVID-19 cases.

Local pharmaceutical companies have also reported that there was a temporary shortage of certain paracetamol brands, according to the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines.

This prompted the Department of Health and Department of Trade and Industry to put a purchase limit to paracetamol and other drugs.

Each individual could now only purchase up to 20 tablets of paracetamol, five bottles of paracetamol suspensions or syrups.

JPV