FDA vows relentless ops vs. sellers of overpriced tocilizumab

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday vowed to be relentless in going after individuals selling overpriced tocilizumab -- used in the treatment of COVID-19 -- which fetches a high price from P80,000 to P100,000 per vial.

"We are in constant coordination with the police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and we have arrested people in buy-bust operations nationwide," FDA Director General Eric Domingo said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"Our operations won't let up," he added.

Nearly a week ago, police operatives in Cavite nabbed suspects selling overpriced tocilizumab.

Domingo then urged the public not to buy medicines from people without conducting background check.

"Don't buy from sources you don't know since they might sell you medicines which could harm the patient," Domingo added.

Early this month, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar ordered  the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) to coordinate with the FDA to stop the illegal sale of tocilizumab.

Eleazar also called on the public to report to authorities if they have information about those individuals or groups making profit by selling tocilizumab.

For her part, Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire warned sellers of overpriced tocilizumab last September 4 that they could face one year to 10 years imprisonment on top P5,000 to P1 million fine once they are convicted of such crime.

Vergeire said that the suggested retail price of tocilizumab just ranges from P13,000 to P25,000 per vial, depending on milligrams of the vial. —LBG, GMA News