DOH freezes prices of 148 essential medicines in disaster-hit areas

The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Thursday a price freeze for 148 essential medicines in areas affected by declared states of calamity due to tropical cyclones Crising and the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat).

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said the measure aims to ensure continued availability and affordability of life-saving medications during times of crisis.

Consumers are advised to check the complete list of medicines covered by the price freeze available on the DOH website or through QR codes in official materials, and report any cases of overpricing to the DOH hotline at (02) 8651-7800 or the DTI hotline at 1384.

The DOH also issued a public advisory against the unsupervised use of doxycycline due to rising health risks from recent flooding and continuous rainfall, emphasizing that taking the antibiotic without a doctor's prescription is dangerous.

Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is monitoring prices in all calamity-affected areas to ensure stability and fairness of basic necessities and prime commodities.