Nalzaro: The high cost of Covid-19 drugs

A dySS Super Radyo Cebu Facebook live streaming listener (Super Radyo dySS 999 khz), Michael Sigue Canada, who works as a nurse in New York, USA but a native of Lawaan 3, Talisay City sent me some newspaper articles regarding the tale of two persons, one an anti-mask advocate and the other an anti-vaccine. Both died due to Covid-19. I am re-writing these articles not to scare people but just to remind them of the basic health protocols and the importance of vaccination to prevent Covid-19 infection.

A prominent anti-mask leader in Texas has died from complications caused by Covid- 19. Caleb Wallace, 30, spent three weeks in an intensive care unit at Shannon Medical Center in his hometown of San Angelo. His family said his condition got worse after he was admitted to the hospital.

Wallace had created the San Angelo Freedom Defenders, a group that sought to end what it labelled “Corona 19 tyrant.” The group is anti-mask, claiming that wearing face masks cannot prevent Covid-19 infection.

Meanwhile, a conservative radio host from Florida who criticized the Covid-19 vaccination effort and called himself “Mr. Anti-Vax” before contracting Covid-19 himself, has died, his radio station announced lately. “It’s with great sadness that WNDB and Southern Stone Communications announce the passing of Marc Bernier, who informed and entertained listeners on WNDB for over 30 years. WNDB operations manager Mark Mckinney told reporters:” If you’ve listened to his show, you’ve heard him talk about how anti-vaccine he is on the air.”

Lesson: Don’t follow their advocacies. In Tagalog; ‘Huwag tularan.’

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Distributors of the two brands of drugs used to treat for Covid-19 patients are raking money nowadays. They are taking advantage of the scarcity of the drug supplies. Just imagine a vial of Remdesivir which only costs P1,214 is sold at P8,000. While Tocilizumab 200 mg/20 ml (one vial) which costs only P22,225 is sold at, hold your breath, P165,000. Susmaryosep! According to a Bol-anon expression: “Wala uroy gaba-i.”

It is just unfortunate that our government agencies which have jurisdiction over regulating the prices of medicines like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are inutile in acting against these unscrupulous traders. Who’s to blame for the high cost of Covid-19 drugs? Pharmaceuticals, distributors or the hospitals? Those responsible should be investigated and prosecuted. Hey, wake up FDA and DTI.

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“Ivermectin is not authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration for prevention or treatment of Covid 19,” officials of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said, reiterating its warning against the use of Ivermectin as Covid-19 drug.

The CDC said it’s seeing a “rapid increase” of severe illnesses as more people turn to Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, to treat Covid-19 despite stern warnings from health officials.