The Philippines’ Department of Health (DOH) has issued an administrative order eliminating the requirement for senior citizens to present purchase booklets to avail of their 20% discount on medicines, aligning with the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
In a move aimed at reducing the burden on senior citizens, the DOH released Administrative Order No. 2024-0017, revising previous guidelines that mandated the use of purchase booklets for monitoring medicine purchases. The order takes effect immediately.
The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, or Republic Act No. 9994, grants a 20% discount on medicines and other health-related goods and services to senior citizens. However, the implementation of this discount through purchase booklets has been deemed cumbersome and difficult for the elderly.
“The Department recognizes that requiring senior citizens to present purchase booklets during every transaction to avail the 20% discount in the purchase of medicines results in undue burden and difficulties,” the DOH stated in its order.
Key revisions include the deletion of sections that required drugstores to fill up purchase booklets and record details of over-the-counter (OTC) medicine purchases. The DOH also modified guidelines on partial filling of prescriptions, ensuring that senior citizens can complete their prescribed quantity without the need for purchase booklets.
The order emphasizes that all other provisions of previous administrative orders that are not affected by this issuance shall remain in effect.
This change is part of the DOH’s humanistic approach to its policies, aiming to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for the elderly population in the Philippines.
The DOH, led by Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, MD, has been working on various initiatives to improve healthcare services and accessibility for all Filipinos, with a particular focus on vulnerable sectors such as senior citizens.
The elimination of purchase booklets is expected to streamline the process of availing medicine discounts, making it easier for senior citizens to access their much-needed medications.
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