DOH scraps purchase booklet for seniors’ drug discount

Metro Manila, Philippines - Senior citizens are no longer required to have a purchase booklet to avail of medicine discounts.

The Department of Health (DOH) made the revision in Administrative Order 17 released on Monday, Dec. 23.

The order deleted earlier guidelines that required a purchase slip booklet to record medicines bought with the 20% discount.

Instead of the booklet, the purchased quantity will just be indicated by the drugstore staff on the prescription itself.

Previous rules stated that the booklets would “help the drugstores to monitor the last purchase made for a certain medicine,” as well as for control and monitoring of medical devices granted with the discount.

Senior citizens have been required to present a purchase booklet, valid identification, and prescription to avail of the discount.

“The department recognizes that requiring senior citizens to present purchase booklets during every transaction to avail the 20% discount in the purchase of medicines result in undue burden and difficulties,” the DOH said.

The agency said this was in compliance with Republic Act 9994 or the “The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010,” as well as “humanistic approach to its policies.”

“On behalf of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., we at the DOH give this gift of convenience and more affordable medicines to all of our senior citizens. Merry Christmas po!" Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said.