MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health has ordered a price freeze on 218 essential medicines and medical supplies as affected communities in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite reel from Taal Volcano's eruption on Sunday, January 12.
In a memorandum released Tuesday, January 14, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III ordered a price freeze on essential analgesics, anti-allergics, anticonvulsants, antibiotics, andibacterial agents, and other medicines and supplies, citing DOH's mandate under Republic Act No.7581 to"monitor and regulate drug prices [and] ensure that consumers are adequately protected against profiteering, hoarding, and cartels" during times of calamity.
Here is a copy of the memorandum, as well as the list of essential medicines and medical supplies from the DOH: Included in the list are N95 masks, which according to the memo must be sold for at most P105 only. Regular surgical face masks, based on the same list, must be sold for at most P8 only. People who violate the price control provision may face between one to 10 years in prison, or be fined between P5,000 and P1 million.