DOH announces price freeze on 146 medicines amid Typhoon Tino national calamity

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday announced a ban on the increase of medicine prices amid the national state of calamity in the wake of Typhoon Tino.

In a statement, DOH said 146 medicines were under a price freeze.

The statement followed after President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. placed the country under a national state of calamity on Thursday due to the effects of Typhoon Tino.

“Ito ay para masiguro ang pananatili sa makatuwirang presyo ng mga bilihing gamot lalo na sa panahon ng kalamidad,” read the statement.

(This is to ensure that prices of available medicine remain appropriate, especially amid times of disaster.)

Under the state of calamity, the items under the freeze cannot change their prices within 60 days, unless the declaration has been lifted earlier by the President.

See the list of medicines under price freeze here.

As of Thursday, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported that 1,951,546 people or 544,081 families have been affected by Typhoon Tino nationwide.

The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) earlier said that 114 were reported dead and 127 were reported missing after Tino’s onslaught. –NB, GMA Integrated News