Cainta flood subsides in some areas. People wade in knee-deep flood in Cainta, Rizal on Thursday. Many homes in Cainta still remain submerged in flood after days of heavy rains caused by a southwest monsoon. Asti Flores

"Hindi ho makatao, hindi maka-Pilipino."

That’s how President Benigno Aquino III characterized an unidentified pharmaceutical company that allegedly raised the price of its leptospirosis medicine by up to 750 percent amid the heavy flooding in many parts of Luzon.

Communications Secretary Ramon Carandang said the type of medicine mentioned was for  leptospirosis, a disease acquired from the Leptospira bacteria in rat urine. The sickness is commonly contracted in heavily flooded areas.

In one of his visits to evacuation centers in Metro Manila Thursday, Aquino said that if the company does not stop what it is doing, the government will take action.

"Hindi ho pwedeng pagsamantalahan ang Pilipino. Kung kakailanganin na mag-direct import po tayo nitong gamot na kailangan para ilagay sa tama ‘yung presyo at mawala ‘yung merkado niya, gagawin po natin ‘yan," Aquino said in Caloocan.

"Sa ngayon nakikiusap muna ako dito sa kompanyang ito,” he continues, “Kilala ka na namin, iimbestigahan ka na."

The Department of Health recently raised  a  leptospirosis alert for heavily flooded areas.
Meanwhile, Assistant Health Secretary Eric Tayag said that the company is now selling its leptospirosis medication between P50-75 from its previous price of P10.

He also said that the government is investigating if the company is local or foreign, and said the DOH could impose a price reduction. He noted that according to law, the Department of Health can take this action. — DVM, GMA News