Price freeze on 200 drugs ordered amid ‘Yolanda’ tragedy

Health Secretary Enrique Ona. AFP File Photo

MANILA, Philippines—Health Secretary Enrique Ona announced Friday the implementation of price freeze on about 200 essential medicines to ensure their availability for victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (Haiyan) who are vulnerable to many diseases due to a lack of clean water, food, and poor sanitation in affected areas.

“Securing the health and safety of the typhoon victims is an immediate priority of the DOH (Department of Health).  We have to make sure that they have access to the medicines that they need, and that public hospitals and government agencies are able to source affordable drugs to reach as many of our countrymen severely affected by this crisis,” Ona said.

He said the essential drugs covered by the price freeze include those for physical and mental trauma and injury, diarrhea, pneumonia skin diseases, infections such as leptospirosis and other endemic diseases in affected areas.

Also included are medicines for diabetes, hypertension and asthma that can be aggravated by anxiety and stress being experienced by the victims.

The price freeze is immediately effective, Ona said, adding that it covers all public and private drug retail outlets nationwide. Consumers are encouraged to lodge complaints against any violations of the order.

The Price Act (Republic Act 7581) mandates the DOH to automatically freeze the prices of essential drugs classified as basic commodities or impose maximum price ceilings particularly in times of calamities to protect consumers from profiteering, hoarding, cartels and other such violations by traders who may take advantage of the calamity situation.

All DOH regional directors are tasked to monitor the prices of essential drugs and make sure there is no overpricing especially in calamity-stricken areas, Ona said.

Meanwhile, the health department also said it remains on alert against possible outbreaks of communicable diseases as even primary health facilities were badly hit by the typhoon, rendering them non-functional in delivering medical aid for the victims.