Senate bill seeks free medicine for the poor

Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. yesterday proposed the establishment of a Free Medicine Assistance Program to be implemented in government hospitals across the country.

Villar, president of the Nacionalista Party, filed Senate Bill 602 or the "Free Medicine for the Poor Act" that would benefit the underprivileged, the elderly, the disabled, and the poor.

"It is common knowledge that some of our countrymen die not because their sickness is incurable, but due to lack of medicine or proper medical treatment or assistance due to poverty," he said.

Villar said the proposal would complement government’s existing programs in giving the poor access to more affordable medicine.

He said the cost of medicine nowadays is beyond the reach of many Filipinos and the government should come up with more ways of making medicine cheaper.

"The government cannot always remain indifferent to the problem. It must offer some form of help directly to the poor," he said.

Under Villar’s proposal, the Department of Health (DOH) will coordinate with the Department of Social Works and Development in identifying the eligible beneficiaries of the program and formulating its implementing rules and regulations. – Jose Rodel Clapano