FDA acts on overpricing of COVID-19 medicines in Pangasinan
THE Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in coordination with different governments agencies, including local government units and law enforcement bodies, is set to crack down on unscrupulous doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and others selling COVID-19 medicines at blackmarket prices beyond the suggested retail price set by the Department of Health (DOH).
This was revealed by Dr. Gumel Gabona, FDA cluster director for Regions 1, II, III and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), when he appeared during the Question Hour of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on October 17.
In that forum, Fourth District Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario, SP chairman on health, revealed that COVID-19 medicines like Remdicivir and Tocilozumab are being overpriced to the prejudice of COVID-19 patients who badly needed these but cannot afford them.
Dr. Jovito Rivera, president of the Pangasinan Medical Society (PMS), told the SP earlier that Tocilozumab was being sold at P45, 000 each but the ceiling set by DOH is from P17,000- P30,000, while the maximum price for Remdicivir is P8,000.
Rosario said he has solid evidence to show that some people are selling these at much higher prices.
He said that at the height of the surge of the contagion, a doctor in a private hospital was even reported offering a package of P50,000 per day to a COVID-19 patient but the latter had not enough money, so he immediately transferred to a government hospital.
Gabona said he will set up a Viber group with the provincial government, the Provincial Police Office, National Bureau of Investigation, among others, to facilitate communication and exchange of information about people or institutions selling grossly overpriced COVID medicines.
“If an establishment licensed by our agency, together with the DOH, there are administrative sanctions, following an administrative proceedings, that we can impose,” Gabona said.
Sanctions include cancellation of the pharmacy or hospital to operate and imposition of fines.
He said FDA can also recommend the cancellation of a doctor’s licenses with the Professional Regulations Commission. (Leonardo Micua)
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