Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol confirmed on Thursday that all drug outlets and establishments selling medicines in Albay province comply with the ongoing price freeze for eight local government units under a state of calamity due to Mayon Volcano unrest.
According to Philippines News Agency, DOH-Bicol Center for Health Development (CHD) pharmacist III Jelly Rhio Osita stated that the regional office has strengthened its monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with the updated price-freeze guidelines. "The DOH has also deployed public health pharmacists and regional drug price monitoring officers who conduct routine monitoring of drug outlets and establishments," she said.
Monitoring medicine prices during a price freeze is integrated into the regular inspection activities of DOH-deployed public health pharmacists, Osita added. In the event of overpricing and other violations, such complaints will be referred to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency mandated to regulate medicine price concerns, she said.
The price freeze plays an important role in protecting consumers, particularly vulnerable sectors, by preventing prohibited practices under the Price Act. "The price freeze ensures that no prohibited act under the Price Act is tolerated, including price manipulation, profiteering, cartels, and other similar acts," Osita said.
DOH-Bicol coordinates with LGUs and provincial price coordinating councils, particularly in areas under a state of calamity, to strengthen enforcement and ensure compliance. The price freeze covers all drug outlets and establishments selling medicines, including both government-run and privately owned pharmacies and hospitals.
DOH recently released an updated Price Freeze List covering 148 essential medicines, including commonly used medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, amlodipine, losartan, metformin, amoxicillin, insulin preparations, and oral rehydration salts, as well as various antibiotics, antihypertensive drugs, cardiac medicines, and emergency medications.
Osita said the updated list serves as a reference for regulators, healthcare facilities, pharmacies, and consumers by indicating the prevailing lowest and highest retail prices of covered medicines during emergencies. Among the medicines included are paracetamol 500-milligram tablets, with prices ranging from PHP0.63 to PHP19.24 per tablet; Metformin 500-mg tablets, from PHP0.45 to PHP42.00; and Amoxicillin 500-mg capsules, from PHP1.00 to PHP49.00.
The updated list also covers medicines used to treat asthma, diabetes, hypertension, infections, cardiovascular diseases, mental health conditions, and electrolyte imbalance, among other health conditions.
