Loren bats for creation of more 'botikas' in rural areas

Senator Loren Legarda yesterday batted for the establishment of more drugstores in rural areas that would enable the poor and the less-privileged TO purchase cheaper medicines.

Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said she would propose the needed measure that will pave the way for the establishment of more 'botika sa barangay' outlets nationwide as mandated by the Cheaper Medicines Act which Legarda herself CO-authored.

Loren noted that there are only 8,525 'botika' outlets nationwide since the Department of Health started the program in 2003.

"Definitely these outlets are not enough considering that we have 41,943 barangays nationwide," Loren said. "While there are many drugstores elsewhere where people can buy medicines, I guess people would opt for cheaper medicines available in our Botica sa Barangay."

Loren also said the DOH must step up further its program for the establishment of these drugstors which will be ran by residents of the barangay who have undergone extensive training from the DOH.

If filed and enacted, Loren said she would seek the immediate implementation of her proposed measure so that 'botikas' will readily be established, especially in rural places where poverty incidence is high and where medical and health services are lacking.

"Hopefully, with the establishment of more botikas, we will no longer hear utterances from our countrymen lamenting that their patients would not have suffered much have they been given medicines," Loren said.

Loren clarified that her proposed measure is not in anyway intended to kill the existing drugstores, especially those belonging to Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) which have been at odds with DOH after Health Secretary Francisco Duque recommended to Malacanang the imposition of price cap or maximum retail price in 22 essential medicines.

"No, we do not intend to kill these drugstores. We just want to ensure that barangay folks, especially the poor ones, will have alternatives," Loren explained.

According to Loren, the 'boticas' that will be established will have to be monitored to ensure that medicines included in core list of the National Drug Formulary like analgesics, anti-convulstant, anti-migraine and anti-pyretic and drugs for fever and flu are being sold.

The PHAP had earlier expressed dismay over the DOH recommendation to Malacanang to impose a maximum cap the price of medicines, saying the group has been doing its part to provide access to cheaper medicines for the poor.

The PHAP said that there is no need for such imposition since prices of medicines are expected to fall because of stiff competition.