DOH Assures Sufficient Leptospirosis Medicine Amid Case Surge

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday assured the public that it has sufficient medicines to treat leptospirosis patients amid the surge in cases following the continuous torrential rain caused by the Southwest Monsoon (Habagat). During the House budget hearing, DOH Secretary Edwin Mercado said the agency has already distributed leptospirosis medicines across the country before the start of the wet season. “Meron po tayong download na preemptively even before the start of the rainy season, and then we have at least 3.1 million capsules still in the central warehouse, which is enough buffer for the rest of the year,” Mercado said. (We have preemptively downloaded even before the start of the rainy season, and we still have at least 3.1 million capsules in the central warehouse, which is enough buffer for the rest of the year.) For 2027, DOH has allocated P9.76 million to procure 4.88 million capsules of medicine to treat leptospirosis. “For 2027, we have P9.76 million [and] we will procure 4.88m capsules, so we are prepositioning across the CHD (Center for Health Development) earlier. Again, this will be part of our early procurement,” Mercado said. In a Balitanghali interview, Dr. Marc Steven Capungcol, chief of the DOH Health Emergency Management Bureau, said DOH hospital in Metro Manila have 77 beds available for leptospirosis patients, with active patient referrals and redistribution in place to prevent overcrowding. Currently, there are 526 admissions and 33 pending admissions of leptospirosis patients in DOH hospitals in Metro Manila. According to Capungcol, leptospirosis cases and deaths are 19% lower than those recorded during the same period last year. The DOH official urged the public to immediately consult a doctor instead of waiting for symptoms of leptospirosis to worsen before seeking medical attention. —RF, GMA News