BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Health reiterates that the price freeze on emergency essential medicines and medical supplies is still in effect amid the concern on the possible spread of the novel coronavirus(COVID-19) and warns drugstores and business establishments against taking advantage of the situation.
DOH – Cordillera Pharmacist III Aiden Bermisa, in a Kapihan media forum Tuesday, said the Food and Drug Administration, the Provincial DOH office, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group conduct regular monitoring of drugstores and groceries in line with the price freeze order.
Bermisa reported that 214 drugstores/groceries in Baguio City and six provinces of Cordillera were monitored of which 72 were found to be non – compliant. Most of the violations involve exceeding the desired maximum selling price of ethyl alcohol, face mask and N95 clinical mask.
DOH – CAR Attorney III Veronica Zandra Sowaken said the non – compliant establishments will be issued with notices to explain in five days. Next actions will be based on their responses.
Sowaken said possible actions include a reprimand or cease and desist order. Drugstores and groceries that are repeat offenders can also be charged administratively and criminally. They can be fined as high as P1million and imprisonment that can go up to 5 years.
For COVID updates, DOH – CAR OIC Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan reported that based on the DOH COVID – 19 case tracker as of 12noon of March 2, there are 43 persons under investigation (PUIs) admitted in various health facilities and 592 patients have already been discharged in the country.
In the Cordillera, Karen Lonogan of the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, reported there is zero or no case of COVID infection with all the 29 PUIs tested negative, with 28 already discharged and one still completing the required 14–day observation period.
Pangilinan said the decrease in the number of PUIs may be attributed to the strengthened surveillance, early travel restrictions and enhanced laboratory processes. She advised the public to remain vigilant and continue to practice proper cough/sneezing etiquette, frequent and proper hand washing, maintain a healthy lifestyle and to keep their immune system at its optimum.
The public must not be alarmed or stigmatized and continue with their normal daily life; what each one needs to do is to be responsible health-wise, and always practice health precautionary measures especially the sick or those medically compromised. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR
