A 60-day price freeze on 148 essential medicines is now in effect in areas declared under a state of calamity, the Department of Health (DOH) announced. The move aims to secure the availability and affordability of life-saving treatments for residents affected by recent calamities.
The price freeze, mandated by Republic Act 7581 or the Price Act, covers medications commonly used for infections, hypertension, diabetes, and other critical conditions. The DOH emphasized that this automatic price control protects the public from overpricing and profiteering during emergencies.
Residents are encouraged to check the complete list of medicines under the price freeze by scanning the QR code in official DOH materials or visiting bit.ly/PriceFreezeDOH.
Public Urged to Report Overpricing
To ensure effective enforcement, the DOH is calling on the public to report any cases of medicine overpricing or hoarding. Complaints can be directed to the DOH Hotline at (02) 8651-7800 or the DTI Hotline at 1-384.
The agency reminded retailers and pharmacies to strictly comply with the price ceiling and warned of possible penalties for violations.
Warning on Unsupervised Use of Doxycycline
In a related advisory, the DOH cautioned the public against taking doxycycline without medical supervision. The antibiotic is commonly used for preventing leptospirosis, which poses a higher risk following heavy floods and exposure to contaminated water.
The DOH stressed that self-medication could lead to antibiotic resistance, making future infections harder to treat. “The appropriate use of doxycycline depends on a person’s level of exposure and risk,” the advisory stated.
Health authorities strongly advised the public to consult a healthcare professional before taking any medication, especially antibiotics.
