BACOLOD City Councilor Renecito Novero has urged the City Health Office (CHO) through the office of Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia to make some preemptive purchases of medicines believed to be effective against coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Novero said Wednesday, October 20, that medicines like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab are said to be helpful in the healing and recovery of patients that are seriously infected with Covid-19.
He said these medicines are reportedly being prescribed in some hospitals.
Novero added that the supply for Remdesivir and Tocilizumab is very scarce and oftentimes unavailable when urgently needed.
The prices of these are also too high and oftentimes not affordable to the low-income patients, the councilor said.
“The City Government should purchase the emergency medicines against Covid so that those who are not capable of purchasing these medicines, the City can give it to them at a reasonable price, then the money will be used again to purchase the medicines,” he stressed.
Novero noted that initially, he was informed that only the hospitals in the city can purchase these kinds of medicines.
Novero said last year’s price of Remdesivir was ranging between P9,000 and P13,000 per vial while the Tocilizumab price also reached P80,000 to P100,000 per vial.
A resolution regarding the matter will be passed by the City Council next week, he added.