MANILA - Philippine
pharmaceutical companies have increased their production
of vitamin C by 50 percent to meet the dramatic rise in
demand for health supplements that would strengthen body
resistance against the dreaded severe acute respiratory
syndrome (SARS).
This was revealed by United
Laboratories Philippines Inc (UNILAB) president Carlos
Ejercito at the creation of the business community's
coalition for the prevention of SARS.
Ejercito said pharmaceutical companies accelerated their orders of ascorbic acid, the
main ingredient of vitamin C, as demand soared and
supplies are depleting.
Demand for vitamin C is
also expected to soar further in the coming weeks as
companies allocate more medical assistance or fund
allocation for the purchase of supplemental vitamin C.
The price of ascorbic acid went up over
the past two months largely because of the SARS scare. The Department
of Trade and Industry has been closely monitoring on the
prices of medicines for the prevention of SARS.
Early last week, the Philippines'
top business leaders formed a coalition for the prevention of SARS to
protect not just their employees but also to secure the
health of their profits.
The broad-range coalition led by United Laboratories,
the country's biggest drug company, will raise funds to
bankroll activities such as information campaigns and
the formulation of standard company procedures on how to
deal with SARS cases.
Ejercito said the leading
members include Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co,
Ayala Corp, Globe Communications, Smart Communications,
San Miguel Corp, Bank of the Philippine Islands and
Aboitiz Group.
