DOH’s Vega: Fresh stocks of remdesivir, tocilizumab arriving this month

The Philippines’ supply of remdesivir and tocilizumab, drugs used in treating COVID-19 patients, will be replenished soon after distributors vowed a restock within the month, a health official said Friday.

Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega said the Department of Health (DOH) has already coordinated with the distributor and maker of tocilizumab, Zuellig Pharma and Roche, as well as the supplier of remdesivir.

“They mentioned in a letter formally that the stocks will be arriving this March. It’s coming. I think that we’re just losing some supplies but the new stocks are coming by March so we can definitely access that,” he said at a briefing.

The DOH earlier said the stockpile of remdesivir and tocilizumab was running low amid a surge in infections. 

Zuellig also confirmed that it had run out of stocks of tocilizumab. 

The DOH has given several hospitals P5 million each to replenish their supply of medicines used to treat COVID-19 cases.

“With the necessary allocation given to the different hospitals, they can now actually procure or purchase these medicines for their patients this March,” Vega said.

The use of remdesivir and tocilizumab was allowed through a compassionate use permit issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

An emergency use authorization from the FDA and a positive recommendation from the Health Technology Assessment Council are required before the government can procure the said drugs.

The Philippines logged a record-high 8,773 new cases on Thursday afternoon, bringing the national tally to 693,048 with 580,062 recoveries and 13,095 deaths. — RSJ, GMA News