No increase in prices of flu items in city

CEBU, Philippines – Despite the advent of the flu season and the H1N1 scare, most drugstores and medical suppliers in Cebu City will not increase the prices of facemasks, alcohol, sanitizers and even seasonal flu shots, as long as prices from their suppliers will remain the same.

Drugstores like Mercury Drug and Rose Pharmacy at the Fuente Osmeña Circle said they cannot increase the prices even of the most sought-after items outright because they observe centralized pricing for all their branches.

Even smaller drugstores at the area of the Chong Hua Hospital and Cebu Doctor’s Hospital will observe status quo because prices from their suppliers have remained the same, so far.

All of these drugstores, nevertheless, noted a significant increase in the demand of facemasks, alcohol, sanitizers, and flu shots in the last few weeks. Many students have also bought sanitizers, facemasks, and seasonal flu shots per requirement of the school they are enrolled in. 

Drugstore managers said alcohol and sanitizers stocks are sufficient, but stocks of facemasks and the seasonal flu shots are reportedly “not as promising.”

The Rose Pharmacy and Doctor’s Choice Pharmacy at the Cebu Doctor’s Hospital ran out of facemasks yesterday.

Rose Pharmacy and the Mercury Drug branch at the Fuente Osmeña also admitted they have tried running out of seasonal flu shots but assured they get replenished immediately. — Barbara Anne B. Ocaba/JMO (THE FREEMAN)