Press Release
June 19, 2009

Loren urges gov't: Ensure supply of face masks, A(H1N1) medicines

Senator Loren Legarda said yesterday that the Philippine government must not only ensure the supply of medicines and equipment like face masks against the A(H1N1) virus, but also their accessibility to the majority of poor Filipinos.

Loren issued the statement at the sidelines of a four-day United Nations conference on climate change and disaster risk reduction after being informed that the price of face masks in the Philippines has climbed.

"Despite the assurance by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) that the increase in the price of face masks in the country has to do with the mark-up in pricing by foreign suppliers, our government must ensure against predatory pricing by local suppliers and dealers," said Loren.

She warned that the swine flu virus problem, despite assurance by the Department of Health that it is less virulent than dengue, must be thoroughly addressed by government because it is very easy to transmit.

From a handful of A(H1N1) cases last week, the number of Filipinos afflicted by the virus had risen to over 300 yesterday.

"While we may not able to dictate on foreign suppliers of equipment and medicines needed in addressing the A(H1N1) problem, it may be a case of us not looking hard enough to find alternative sources for the needed supplies," said Loren.

Loren is chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography. Before her departure for Switzerland as UN Disaster Risk Reduction Champion for Asia and the Pacific, Loren had convened her committee to tackle the A(H1N1) problem.

"In as much as we have passed a law to make affordable medicines accessible to our people, our government is mandated not only to secure for our people the needed face masks and A(H1N1) medicines, but also to make the same accessible to the majority of our poor countrymen," said Loren.

"If need be, the government must subsidize the cost of A(H1N1) medicines because the health of our people is of paramount importance. If Congress needs to pass a supplemental budget for this purpose, so be it."

Earlier, Loren lauded efforts by the DOH to contain the spread of the virus, as well as its mitigation measures on communities that had already been hard hit by the virus like Barangay Hilera in Nueva Ecija and a village in Bulacan.

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