Health chief urges people to buy generic drugs in treating leptospirosis

Health Secretary Enrique Ona

MANILA, Philippines — When purchasing an antibiotic to treat leptospirosis, it is wiser to choose a generic over a branded product as this is P13 cheaper.

In an advisory issued on Sunday, Health Secretary Enrique Ona told the people afflicted with the bacterial infection to ask for a doctor’s prescription bearing the generic names of doxycycline and any other medicines they need to prescribe.

Ona also advised patients developing a fever even after taking the medicine, to seek medical attention. The drug should not be administered to pregnant women and children below 8 years old, he added.

The Department of Health (DOH) provided these pointers amid an expected surge in leptospirosis cases due to the heavy rains and flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring provinces last week.

“Drug prices vary. You can sometimes save on generics and sometimes on branded drugs. Prices also vary depending on which drugstore you make the purchase,” said Ona.

A 100-milligram capsule of generic doxycycline costs between P2 and P15, depending on the manufacturer and they are available in government hospital drugstores and commercial drugstores, according to Ona.