- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod approved on third and final reading this afternoon, April 12, an ordinance providing hypertension and diabetes maintenance medicines to indigent senior citizens.
Authored by Councilor Celia Matea Flor, chairperson of the SP Committee on Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs, the measure seeks an initial appropriation of P4 million each year for the maintenance medicines of indigent senior citizens of Bacolod, subject to auditing rules and regulations.
This ordinance aims to provide medical assistance to Bacolod indigent senior citizens by appropriating funds to the City Health Office (CHO) for the purchase of maintenance medicines, Flor, who was greeted by her colleagues with a birthday song during the SP session Wednesday, added.
The maintenance medicines that shall be given, depending on the recommendation of the CHO, include Amlodipine, Losartan, Metoprolol, Metoprolol Tartrate, and Simvastatin/Rosuvastatin for qualified elderly with hypertension; and Metformin and Insulini 70/30 for diabetics.
“An indigent senior citizen, who is a resident of Bacolod City for at least six months, has undergone a free checkup, and who has a prescription from a public health practitioner assigned at the CHO or barangay health center, is eligible to avail of the free medicines,” the ordinance, co-authored by councilors Kalaw Puentevella and Simplicia Distrito, said.
Indigent senior citizens are unable to purchase their maintenance medicines and sustain their day-to-day living due to lack of funds, and would need financial support from the government, it added.
To avail of the maintenance medicines, the beneficiary shall undergo free check-up from a public health practitioner, either from the CHO or the barangay health center. “If the beneficiary is prescribed with hypertension or diabetes medicines, they can proceed to their barangay and enroll for the free maintenance medicines under the ordinance. The barangay will then issue a booklet, where succeeding requests for medicines will be recorded.
Flor said in a press release that since the budget for this year has already been allocated, “the ordinance will possibly be effective next year, or if the SP files for a supplemental budget at the end of 2023”./CGC
