MANILA - An association of pharmaceutical and drug store companies assured that prices of medicines will not increase given the current spike in demand due to the flooding caused by tropical storm “Ondoy.”

In a statement on Friday, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) president Oscar Aragon said, "We assure the public that our member manufacturers and distributors have maintained the prices of their products especially during this time of calamity.”

Aragon said that its member pharmaceutical companies have frozen prices of essential medicines at prevailing prices prior to the calamity brought by the flooding in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

PHAP has 50 member companies—both local and multinational—nationwide. Members are engaged in the manufacture, distribution and retail of medicines, over-the-counter products, nutritionals and medical devices.

The Department of Health (DOH) has requested medicines such as antibiotics, anti-diarrheas, anti-tetanus vaccines and other priority vaccines, anti-hypertensives, anti-diabetics, intravenous fluids, and multivitamins for use of children, mothers and adults.

Appeal

Meanwhile, PHAP Executive Director Reiner Gloor said that the PHAP, through the PHAPCares Foundation, has started to work on the list of the most needed medicines provided by the DOH.

"We have mobilized the PHAPCares Foundation to ensure that we can provide many of the medicines needed by the flood victims. We have been working double time because we are hoping to avoid an outbreak,” Gloor said.