Private pharma firms helping gov't get supply of drugs used for COVID-19 —DOH

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said private pharmaceutical companies have been helping the government get supplies of remdesivir and tocilizumab, drugs which are used to treat COVID-19.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB said there is a shortage in the supply of both drugs due to demand worldwide.

"Tumutulong sa atin ang pribadong sektor para makapag-source out ng supply," she said.

(The private sector is assisting us in sourcing out supply [of the drugs].)

The supply of tocilizumab, a drug used off-label in treating COVID-19 patients, is expected to remain limited until December this year, Dr. Melissa Guerrero, program manager of the DOH pharmaceutical division, said Thursday.

The National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City on Tuesday said it will temporarily stop dispensing remdisivir and tocilizumab, except for patients with severe COVID-19 infections, as their supply of the therapeutic drugs are already running low.

Meanwhile, the government is looking at baricitinib as an alternative amid the limited supply of tocilizumab, DOH Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega earlier said.

Vergeire on Saturday also said the government is procuring additional medical supplies such as mechanical ventilators and nasal cannulas.

"Nagpo-procure kami ng mga kailangan ng mga ospital gaya ng mechanical ventilators at nasal cannula," she said.

(We are procuring items needed by hospitals such as mechanical ventilators and nasal cannulas.)

Meanwhile, the Department of Budget and Management has already released P888.12 million for the special risk allowances (SRA) of public and private healthcare workers who were personally involved in treating COVID-19 patients from December 20, 2020 to June 30, 2021.

The said funds for the SRA came from the miscellaneous personnel benefits fund and unprogrammed appropriations from the 2021 national budget.

Vergeire also assured health workers the DOH is one with them in the fight against COVID-19.

"Kaisa po kami ng lahat ng healthcare workers sa ating bansa, kasama ang mga doktor sa HTAC (Health Technology Assessment Council), we are one with you. Ramdam po namin ang hirap ng lahat ng health workers. Kaagapay at tutulungan namin kayo. We are doing our best. What we are doing now ay binibigyang tugon ang mga ospital," she added.

(The DOH and the doctors of HTAC are one with healthcare workers in the country. We feel your struggle. We are with you and will help you. We are doing our best. What we are doing now is to address the needs of hospitals.) —KG, GMA News