150 Botika outlets to open in Caloocan

Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echiverri announced yesterday the national government has approved the establishment of at least 150 "Botika ng Bayan" (BnB) outlets in most barangays earning for Caloocan the distinction of having the most number of BnBs in Metro Manila.

Echiverri said the government, through the Department of Health (DOH) has initially granted special licenses to some 20 barangays in the city for the operation of their mini-drugstores from March to April this year.

Another 130 BnBs will be established in the city on or before the end of the year, the mayor said.

Echiverri identified the areas with licenses to operate as Barangays 134, 166, 170, 173, 176, 177, 178, 180 and 184 in District 1 and Barangays 3, 8, 12, 21, 22, 23, 26, 52, 68, 84 and 31 in District 2.

Liga president and Councilor Ricojudge Echiverri disclosed that to ensure the medicines are dispensed according to prescriptions, the local government will be fielding licensed pharmacists in every BnB to supervise the sale of medicines. Specially-trained personnel will be manning the drugstore.

The young Echiverri assures the public the medicines which will be sold at the "mini pharmacies" will possess the same potency and quality as those of branded but highly priced medicines.

Caloocan citizens will now be able to purchase quality medicines from their Botika ng Bayan at much cheaper prices, the mayor said.

In some cases, he said, the prices can be 50 percent cheaper than those being sold in popular drugstores.

Echiverri lauded the national government for granting the city with the most number of "Botika sa Barangay." With this, he said his mostly poor constituents can now have easy access to affordable but quality medicines. – Jerry Botial