MANILA – The government’s ability to procure Covid-19 treatment medications in bulk, particularly the anti-inflammatory tocilizumab, is being hampered by a global supply crisis, according to Malacañang on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the country is having a short supply of tocilizumab, a modified medicine for Covid-19.
“Pero humahanap na po tayo ng alternatibo at nakahanap naman po tayo at ang alternatibo ay baricitinib (But we are looking for alternative and we already found one and that is baricitinib),” he said.
According to Roque, the government is now acquiring more baricitinib drugs as an alternative to tocilizumab.
“Kaya po tayo nga kukulang, hindi sa hindi tayo bumibili ng Toci… kung hindi world supply problem po muli. Wala po tayong magagawa dyan dahil hindi naman natin mina-manufacture iyan (The reason why we are lacking is not that we are not buying tocilizumab, but again, it’s because of the world supply problem. We can do nothing about that as we are not manufacturing that),” he added.
He further stated that the government is still procuring remdesivir medicines for usage in hospitalized Covid-19 patients.
Roque warned the public not to be deceived by those who are attempting to exploit the Covid-19 crisis for their own political gain.
“Huwag po tayo magpadala sa usaping politika. Madami na pong kandidato. Lahat po magsasabi sila ng kung anu-anong mga bagay para suyuin kayo pero ang katotohanan po, lahat po ng gamot ay naririyan kung nagkukulang tayo ng tocilizumab, hindi po dahil hindi tayo bumili kundi walang supply at humahanap ho ng alternatibo (Don’t get swayed into politics. There are a lot of would-be candidates. They will say anything to entice you but the truth is, all the medicine are there, if we lack tocilizumab, it is not because we are not buying but there is a shortage of supply and we are looking for alternatives),” Roque said.
