The Department of Health (DOH) announced that medicine prices in the Philippines are expected to remain stable until June 2026, following assurances from pharmaceutical companies that they will not implement price increases during the period despite global challenges affecting logistics and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
During the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel on Friday, April 10, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said there is currently no issue with the supply and pricing of medicines in the country.
“There is no problem with [the] supply of medicine. There is no problem with the price. We have good inventory. Our problem is what happens to the prices. If the companies abroad start charging for the transport,” Herbosa said, noting that potential price changes may be influenced by rising transportation and shipping costs.
Herbosa explained that most medicines are not directly affected by petroleum-related products, but their prices may still be impacted by increased logistics and freight expenses.
He added that pharmaceutical companies typically maintain a three-month inventory, which is expected to keep prices stable until June. However, prices may increase afterward when companies begin new orders affected by higher shipping costs.
“Kinausap namin ang pharma industry, ang promise nila hindi sila magtataas kasi hindi naman dumaraan sa Strait of Hormuz iyong mga gamot. Pero sabi nila, hanggang June lang 'yan,” Herbosa said.
The health chief also emphasized that transport costs—whether by air or sea—continue to rise due to higher fuel prices, which may eventually be passed on to consumers or absorbed by manufacturers.
Herbosa also cited the Cheaper Medicines Act of 2008, which mandates government agencies to monitor medicine prices in retail and wholesale markets.
He said the DOH continues to coordinate with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure price monitoring compliance.
The DOH chief added that medicine prices are regularly published through the government’s eGov platform under the Drug Price Watch system, allowing the public to compare prices in nearby pharmacies.
According to Herbosa, the DOH currently monitors 10 essential medicines on a weekly basis, including drugs for hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, antibiotics, and insulin, to ensure that no irregular price increases occur.
He also noted that the government has the authority to recommend price caps to the President if necessary, depending on market conditions.
The DOH assured the public that there is no shortage of essential medicines in the country, including insulin and antibiotics, and that prices are expected to remain stable through mid-2026.
"Wala tayong shortage. So again, wala tayong shortage whether sa insulin or antibiotics. Ang presyo, steady yan until [the] middle of this year," he said.
