By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, December 23, issued an order removing the requirement for senior citizens or their representatives to present booklets when purchasing medicines.
Administrative Order (AO) No. 2024-0017, signed by DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, amends AO Nos. 2010-0032 and 2012-0007, which implemented the 20 percent discount on medicines, medical equipment, and other health-related items.
The new order, effective immediately, eliminates the purchase booklet requirement in compliance with Republic Act No. 9994, also known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.
Instead, pharmacists will indicate the partial filling of prescriptions and any remaining balance directly on the prescription, which can be used to complete the purchase at a later date.
“The [DOH] recognizes that requiring senior citizens to present purchase booklets during every transaction to avail the 20 percent discount in the purchase of medicines results in undue burden and difficulties,” the order stated.
“There is a need to realign guidelines on implementing the 20 percent Senior Citizens’ discount with statutory law, which does not require the use of a purchase booklet to avail the 20 percent discount on medicines,” it added.
In a statement, Herbosa said the new policy would make it easier for senior citizens, himself included, to access discounts. He called it a “gift of convenience” from the Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration this Christmas.
“I am also a senior citizen. I know it is hard to always bring a purchase booklet with you. Seniors need the discount on their medicines, and we must make it easy for them to get that,” Herbosa said.
“On behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we at the DOH give this gift of convenience and more affordable medicines to all of our senior citizens. Merry Christmas po!” he added.
Proposals to remove the booklet requirement have been in discussion since earlier this year.
Last July 22, the House of Representatives adopted House Resolution No. 253, urging the DOH to scrap the booklet requirement.
In February, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian also supported removing purchase booklets for all senior citizen discounts.
