Health officials eye Botika ng Probinsya in various parts of South Cotabato

KORONADAL CITY — Health officials in South Cotabato are seriously considering the idea of establishing "Botika ng Probinsya" (or drugstore of the province) in various parts of the province to provide its constituents greater access to cheaper and affordable drugs and medicines.

South Cotabato provincial health officer Dr. Edgardo Sandig said the various sectors in the province have expressed full support to this idea and urged them to realize it as soon as possible, citing the fact that it would really help the poor.

Sandig said a series of consultations have already been conducted regarding the proposed establishment of the Botika ng Probinsya, which was patterned from President Arroyo’s "Botika ng Bayan" and "Botika ng Barangay," and they received positive feedbacks from the concerned sectors.

"We want the constituents, especially the poor, to have more access to affordable and cheaper medicines," Sandig said.

He said they will put up the Botika ng Probinsya at the provincial hospital and three other district hospitals in the province.

Sandig said they will copy the distribution arrangement between the government’s two botikas and the Philippine International Trading Corp. (PITC) as the lead implementing agency of the government’s half-price medicine program.

The government’s two botikas have been used by the PITC as its outlets for its half-price medicines program.

PITC buys medicines and drugs through importation and local sourcing with the help of the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and the Department of Health (DOH).