The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday assured the public that medicine prices will remain stable at least until June, following commitments from pharmaceutical companies not to implement immediate price increases.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said drug manufacturers agreed to hold prices steady for now, even amid rising global fuel and logistics costs.
“Kinausap namin ang pharma industry, ang promise nila hindi sila magtataas kasi hindi naman dumadaan sa Strait of Hormuz yung mga gamot. Pero sabi nila hanggang June lang ‘yan,” Herbosa said during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel.
He explained that pharmaceutical firms typically maintain a three-month inventory, meaning any price adjustments may only be reflected later in the year once new shipments are ordered—particularly if logistics costs continue to rise.
“Ang logistics whether eroplano yan or barko gagastos yan ng higher fuel cost. So yun puwede nilang ipasa, some puwede nilang i-absorb so yun ang babantayan ko, yung second half of the year,” he added.
Herbosa also stressed that the government has the authority to impose price controls if necessary, assuring the public that safeguards are in place to prevent unjustified increases.
The DOH said it continues to closely monitor the supply and pricing of essential medicines, particularly the 10 most commonly used drugs for conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
The agency added that there is sufficient medicine supply in the country and that weekly monitoring is being conducted to ensure affordability and prevent opportunistic pricing amid global economic pressures.