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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider NBI to probe hoarding of medical oxygen in Cebu

NBI to probe hoarding of medical oxygen in Cebu

Published Aug 5, 2021 02:04 pm

RELATIVES of COVID-19 patients purchase medical grade oxygen in a pharmacy in Cebu City. (Juan Carlo de Vela)

The National Bureau of Investigation-Central Visayas (NBI Region 7) will look into reports that medical oxygen and other medical supplies are being hoarded in Cebu.

“The order to conduct an investigation came from the Department of Justice,” said lawyer Renan Oliva, NBI Region 7 director. The NBI Region 7 received the order last Aug. 4.

The purpose of the investigation is to find out if hoarding of oxygen tanks is really happening and identify the persons behind it, Oliva said.

In the conduct of the investigation, the NBI Region 7 will coordinate with the police and other government agencies such as the Department of Trade and Industry-Central Visayas (DTI Region 7), Department of Health Region 7, and Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Medical oxygen tanks have been selling fast here due to the surge of COVID-19 cases.

DTI Region 7 director Maria Elena Arbon assured that Cebu has sufficient supply of medical grade oxygen (MGO). “No need to panic,” said Arbon.

The DTI Region 7 said that three Cebu-based MGO manufacturers, Linde Philippines Inc., MEPZ Mixed Gases Corp., and SUGECO-Cebu, assured that they can produce 600 to 800 cylinders a day based on the current cylinder holdings and labor force.

Should the increase of COVID-19 cases reach critical level, the three companies assured they can increase their production to 200 percent, the DTI Region 7 said.

There are eight registered MGO manufacturers in Region 7.

The DTI Region 7 warned that those who will be caught hoarding medical oxygen will be held liable under Republic Act (RA) 7581, otherwise known as the Price Act as amended by RA 10623.

Penalty includes imprisonment of not less than five years but not more than 15 years and a fine of not less than P5,000 but not more than P2 million.

The Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH Region 7), on the other hand, warned the public against improper use of medical oxygen.

DOH 7 director Jaime Bernadas emphasized that using MGO needs medical supervision as improper use may lead to oxygen toxicity due to breathing in too much amount of oxygen.

“This leads to trauma of the lung tissue. For an individual whose lungs are already inflamed due to the SARS COV2 virus infection, unsupervised oxygen therapy can lead to more damage and even death,” Bernadas said in a statement.

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