NMMC runs out of Covid-19 med drug

NORTHERN Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) has yet to receive their supply of Tocilizumab that they ordered from Manila after their stocks ran out due to their large number of severe to critical Covid-19 patients, its spokesman said.

“Yes, we ran out of Tocilizumab. I was informed that we ran out of Tocilizumab last week and we don’t know when the next delivery is. We ordered Tocilizumab before our stocks ran out and like other hospitals, we are dependent on the suppliers. We even ordered 80 vials of Tocilizumab which we think costs between P22,000 to 32,000 per vial. So we also know of our reports that the medicine is very expensive,” NMMC liaison officer Dr. Bernard Julius Rocha said during Tuesday afternoon’s City Hall press briefing.

Dr. Rocha said other private and public hospitals are also waiting for their supply of Tocilizumab, one of several medicinal drugs such as Remdesivir that were issued emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for severe to critical Covid-19 patients.

Tocilizumab reportedly costs P100,000 per 400 mg in the market.

“Tocilizumab helps ease the inflammation (in a person’s respiratory system),” he said.

Dr. Rocha said the shortage in supply of Tocilizumab is being felt by every private and public hospital in the country.

“We were assured by our supplier that we may receive our stocks by this week or next week,” he said. Dr. Rocha said contrary to speculations, a maximum of one to two doses of Tocilizumab are given per Covid-19 patient.

“Contrary to what’s speculated, it’s not a maximum of eight doses since they may be referring to Remdesivir,” Dr. Rocha said.

“If the families of the victims can afford to, they can buy outside the hospital but we heard that it costs P100,000 per vial due to the high demand. But we at NMMC are finding ways to procure Tocilizumab from whatever available sources,” he said.

Depending on the patient’s condition, Tocilizumab is administered in combination with another anti-inflammatory medicinal drug called Dexamethasone for treatment, Dr. Rocha added.

For his part, Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said any possible hoarding of medicinal drugs especially used for Covid-19 pandemic during the pandemic entails heavy penalties.

“But hopefully the national government can secure a stable supply of Covid-19 treatment drugs so it won’t have to deal with hoarders. Doing so will only prolong the problem while many people are dying of the virus,” Moreno said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)