MANILA –The government is facing challenges in sourcing anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab for COVID-19 patients, even as the country battles a surge of coronavirus infections.
“For tocilizumab, we are having challenges sa ngayon. Kausap natin ang manufacturers and even across the globe nagkakaroon na ng competition,” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told a media briefing on Tuesday.
Vergeire said the DOH already wrote to Philippine embassies in the United States and Switzerland to request assistance for securing the drug.
“Tayo ay sumulat na sa embassy natin ng Switzerland and United States para magpatulong tayo If we can be provided with reserved allocation,” she said.
“Kahit man lang portion of what should be given to other countries ay makahingi tayo para mabigyan din po ang ating bansa dahil talagang nahihirapan tayo mag-source out ngayon ng tocilizumab,” she added.
Vergeire said experts are currently studying alternative drugs for tocilizumab. However, she noted that the drugs need to be vetted by the Food and Drug Administration first before it can be used.
Meanwhile, the country still has stocks of remdesivir, according to the health official. She said the government does not see any problem with the supply of the COVID-19 investigational drug at present.(©Philippine Daily Inquirer 2021)
