DOH monitors drug prices amid fuel crisis

The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday said it is closely monitoring medicine prices amid the oil crisis.

“Developments are rapid… There are also other measures being simultaneously done: inventory checks and contingency planning, especially in DOH hospitals, so that stocks of medicines and medical supplies are unimpeded,” DOH spokesperson Undersecretary Albert Domingo said in a statement.

Earlier, DOH also said it is keeping watch on the prices of medicines and medical supplies after an economist predicted inflation would impact the healthcare community as a result of the Middle East crisis.

Domingo said that PhilHealth must ensure it can catch up with the expected demand.

Meanwhile, he urged the public to understand how private hospital fees are broken down and calculated in line with price hikes on the fees in response to inflation.

“It's time to unbundle or breakdown the charges of hospitals and health facilities. Don't just say room rate - how much is charged for electricity? For gasoline/diesel? For nurses' salaries? So we can see if the price of health services is really affected by the increase in oil prices. And it's hard to give a number right away like 5, 4, 3, 2, or even 1% - how was that calculated?” he said.

“People will understand if it's unbundled or broken down and clear, and even DOH through Zero Balance Billing and PhilHealth through the right benefits can help,” he added. —Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News