DoH alarmed by antibiotic misuse
THE Department of Health (DoH) will come out with twin guidelines on the use of antibiotics after reports that antimicrobial resistance remained a global threat, it said in a statement on Thursday.
Its National Antibiotic Guidelines will tell people how to use medicines for common ailments and diseases, while the Philippine National Formulary features rational use of 619 types of antibiotics.
The UN Interagency Coordination Group on antimicrobial resistance in April said resistance to antibiotics was fast becoming a global health concern. It said 700,000 people who die yearly due to drug-resistant diseases. If not addressed, the deaths could reach 10 million yearly by 2050.
“The irrational use/misuse of antimicrobials was identified as a major driver of antimicrobial resistance, which has been associated with various management and health care provider concerns,” Health Undersecretary Rolando Enrique D. Domingo said in the statement.
The Health department will print and distribute the formulary manual later this year. The manual will guide healthcare facilities and professionals in prescribing and using medicines for various illnesses, Mr. Domingo said.
“The drugs listed in the formulary are those considered essential or vital in addressing the major disease burden in the country,” he said. “So it helps the government make sound decisions on health care prioritization,” he added. — Gillian M. Cortez
DoJ starts releasing convicts
THE Justice department was scheduled to start releasing yesterday convicts who surrendered but whose release was not for good conduct, Justice Secretary Menardo I. Guevarra said.
At least 25 convicts in the first batch were to be released because they were freed earlier after being pardoned or paroled, he told reporters.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte earlier fired his prison chief Nicanor E. Faeldon for allowing the release of about 2,000 felons convicted of various heinous crimes. The law disqualifies them from early release for good conduct.
He gave the convicts until Sept. 19 to surrender or they will be hunted down “dead or alive.” Mr. Perete on Monday said 2,221 convicts had surrendered.
The DoJ and the Department of the Interior and Local Government has revised the rules implementing the law on early release for good conduct, disqualifying recidivists, escapees, habitual delinquents and convicts of heinous crimes.
Mr. Guevarra said he asked government prosecutors to help the Bureau of Corrections in reviewing the records of inmates. — Vann Marlo M. Villegas
Bill to help jeepney operators
A LAWMAKER has filed a bill that seeks to help drivers and operators who will be affected by a government plan to phase out old jeepneys.
House Bill 4823 by Party-list Rep. Michael Edgar Y. Aglipay will give P100,000 in financial assistance to “lighten the capital burden of modernization.”
The measure also allows the government to buy out old public utility jeepneys for P400,000 each.
Further, the bill provides that existing single unit operators shall be allowed to take part in the modernization program and to continue to hold on their franchise, as long as they comply with the required vehicle specifications and operations.
Mr. Aglipay told reporters separately drivers and operators support the modernization effort but they want it to be implemented fairly.
Jeepney drivers and operators are scheduled to hold a nationwide transport strike on Sept. 30 to protest the phase-out of old jeepneys by July next year. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras
Prices of 120 patented drugs face cuts
THE prices of about 120 patented medicines will be cut by 56% under the Department of Health’s list of maximum drug retail prices, it said in a statement yesterday.
The list will cover medicines used to treat top health concerns of Filipinos. Most of these medicines are patented by their manufacturers and don’t have a generic counterpart.
The proposed list covers 120 drugs addressing leading diseases and catastrophic conditions in the Philippines such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung diseases, neonatal diseases, and major cancers.
The list also covers high cost treatments for chronic renal disease, psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, which were requested by several patient organizations and medical societies for inclusion in the list, DoH said. — Gillian M. Cortez
