THE Department of Health (DoH) has ordered a price freeze on face masks, nebulizers and other medicine in areas affected by Taal volcano’s eruption.

In a department memorandum, Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said that the DoH was mandated to monitor and regulate drug prices, as well as ensure that consumers are “adequately protected” against “profiteering, hoarding, cartels, and the like” that compromises their access to essential pharmaceutical products.