DOH scraps purchase booklet rule for seniors

CEBU, Philippines — Senior citizens no longer need to present their purchase booklets at pharmacies to avail of the 20% discount on medicines, the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Monday, December 23.

The DOH issued Administrative Order 2024-0017 to ease the burden on senior citizens, who previously had to present their purchase booklets for every transaction to claim their rightful discount.

“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,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement.

Purchase booklets are commonly used in drugstores and supermarkets, where pharmacists or cashiers document and track the discounted purchases.

Showing a government-issued ID, which is proof of eligibility for the 20% discount on basic necessities, was not enough to avail of the discount.

With the administrative order, DOH updated the guidelines followed in implementing Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

It removed the sections requiring the use of purchase booklets at drugstores for over-the-counter transactions and the recording of purchased medicines, devices, quantities, dates, and locations in the booklet.

Since the purchase booklet was also used to monitor the quantity of a specific medicine purchased, ensuring a person does not exceed the prescribed amount, the administrative order amended the process.

Instead of recording partial quantities in the booklet, these details must now be documented directly on the prescription.

Herbosa added that the revised guidelines is the agency’s Christmas gift to senior citizens.

In a statement, Rep. Milagros Aquino-Magsaysay (United Senior Citizens Partylist) said that the administrative order not only prioritizes elderly convenience but is also "ecologically sound and friendly."

However, she urged government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry, to extend the policy to cover the purchase of basic necessities and prime commodities, not just medicines.

Meanwhile, Rep. Rodolfo "Ompong" Ordanes (Senior Citizen Partylist) said it would have been better if PWDs were included in the new rule as they are also required to present their purchase booklet.

"They should include PWDs as well since they also have a discount booklet. They also buy medicines and medical devices. Unnecessary the booklet is. Finally, the DOH has been enlightened on this," he said in a statement.

The administrative order followed recommendations from the House committees on senior citizens, ways and means, and the special committee on PWDs to address the burden of the booklet requirement on the elderly.

"During the House hearings, it was brought up that the booklet requirement often causes senior citizens to get denied essential medicines. Senior citizens often forget these documents, or lose them," Rep. Joey Salceda (Albay, 2nd District) said in a statement.

The three committees held hearings from January to March 2024 on issues surrounding senior and PWD discounts. — (FREEMAN)  Philstar.com