Under the City Ordinance no. SP-2892 passed in December 2019, authored by Majority Leader Franz Pumaren, Councilor Donny Matias and Councilor Imee Rillo, the Quezon City's Senior Citizen Maintenance Medicine Program relaunch begins today, April 5, 2022.
Senior citizens who need maintenance medicines for hypertension, diabetes, or high cholesterol will be able to access them for free.
In need senior citizens with the aforementioned medical issues will receive medicines such as Losartan (50mg/tab), Amlodipine (5mg/tab), Metformin (500mg/tab), and Simvastatin (20mg/tab).
“Sa pamamagitan ng programang ito, tutuldukan na natin ‘yung matagal nang suliranin ng mga mahihirap nating mamamayan, lalo na ng mga senior citizen, na walang pambili ng gamot pang-maintenance. Sinisikap ng pamahalaang lungsod na maging accessible para sa lahat ang dekalidad na serbisyong medikal,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
How to avail the free medicines under the program?
Elderly people who want to participate in the program must first register at their local health center. They must show their QC identification card or their current Office of Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) identification card.
After registering, the elders will have a medical examination and check-up by a doctor assigned to the health center. They will also be issued a prescription (if they do not have one) and the medications will be supplied to them.
How often the seniors can avail the free medicines?
Every first Tuesday of the month, which is designated as Senior Citizens Day in all of the QC's 65 health clinics, seniors can claim their monthly supply of pharmaceuticals.
Patients who need drugs that are not available in the health centers will be directed to the Department of Social Services Development for medical help.
The Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) also provides free flu and pneumococcal immunizations to seniors in addition to the free medicines.
Each poor bedridden seniors will also be visited on a regular basis by health center workers. They get free lab tests and dental checks, among other things.
“This is just among our city’s programs for our dearest senior citizens. Sinisiguro po namin na alaga po kayo rito sa Quezon City,” Mayor Belmonte added.
Source: Quezon City seniors to get free monthly maintenance meds--Joy Belmonte | Inquirer News
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