The Department of Health (DOH-6) is closely coordinating with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) on the regulation and monitoring of oxygen prices in Western Visayas.
This, as the concerns on the lack of supply continue while the demand grows.
“Every week ga meeting kita with DTI so gina see to it man nila…I think kabalo man na sila sang mga supplier sang medical-grade oxygen,” said Dr. Jocelyn Te, DOH-6 spokesperson.
The regional office noted that there is also weekly survey on hospital supply and consumption of medical-grade oxygen.
Earlier, Mayor Jerry Treñas said hospitals in Iloilo City are running short of liquid oxygen supplies.
“One of the biggest suppliers of liquid oxygen in Western Visayas echoed this scarcity when it presupposed that if no supply for liquid oxygen will be provided in the next two days, there will be no resource available for the same in Iloilo City,” the mayor said in his letter to National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief Carlito Galvez Jr.
The letter requesting for the urgent provision and/or augmentation of the supply of liquid oxygen to Iloilo City is also addressed to Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez, and NTF’s Delfin Lorenzana.
The DOH-6 earlier noted that aside from lack of supply of cyliders/oxygen tanks, other concerns of oxygen suppliers in the region include lack of information on which hospitals to prioritize in the delivery and supply, FDA-licensing requirement compliance by the contractor (generating plant), and transport of raw materials from other regions.
As action taken, consultation and dialogue with FDA was conducted regarding the licensing of oxygen-generating plants, consultation with WV suppliers and manufacturers, and dissemination of policies to the hospital.IMT
