Cagayan de Oro's rising COVID-19 cases lead to remdesivir shortage, overpricing

The COVID-19 outbreak in Mindanao is getting worse, and the number of cases has exceeded that of Metro Manila. Local residents were not able to get their hands on the antiviral drug Remdesivir.

According to the [Philippine Daily Inquirer], A quarter of new COVID-19 cases in the country has been recorded in Mindanao, which has now outpaced Metro Manila, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Saturday.
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Cagayan de Oro's acting city health officer Dr. Lorraine Nery stated that the city has run out of supplies of the antiviral drug "Remdesivir" due to mounting COVID-19 cases in the city. (Photo / Retrieved from SUNSTAR)

“Mindanao has outpaced the National Capital Region (NCR), where Mindanao contributes to about 25 percent of the cases right now. So we see that the burden of cases has shifted to other areas,” she said at an online briefing.

According to a report from [Rappler], Cagayan de Oro's acting city health officer Dr. Lorraine Nery stated that the city has run out of supplies of the antiviral drug "Remdesivir" due to mounting COVID-19 cases in the city, forcing some families with members who contracted the deadly virus to search for the medicine elsewhere.

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The Department of Health, Philippines warns public of high vaccine prices. (Photo / Retrieved from European Pressphoto Agency)

As the demand for the drug increased, its prices also soared to astronomical levels.

“Jose" (not his real name), a resident who had caught the deadly virus, told Rappler that his family was able to buy remdesivir in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon last week, but were forced to pay an exorbitant P90,000 for only six vials.