Access to cheaper essential drugs getting easier
Filipinos' access to essential drugs at prices they can afford is now easier through Botika ng Bayan (BnB) outlets with its operation getting wider in various parts of the country.
The Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) reported recently that there are a total of 1,263 accredited and full Botika ng Bayan outlets all over the country.
The PITC also opened recently the first Botika ng Bayan outlet that will serve the public 24 hours a day located inside the Caltex Star Mart in Pasay City.
PITC Chairman Roberto Pagdanganan said in an interview that he hopes to better serve the public by opening up more BnB outlet in partnership with convenient stores all over the country.
According to Pagdanganan less than 30 percent of the 80 million Filipinos have regular access to essential drugs. Around 80 percent of ill Filipinos die without access to medication.
The Botika ng Bayan is a strategic program of the PITC to make essential quality medicines available, accessible and affordable to the public. This program was launched in December 2005 in partnership with the Department of Health, Bureau of Food and Drugs and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation.
All the medicines sold in various BnB outlets nationwide have passed through the quality control and product registration standards of the Bureau of Food and Drugs.
To further ensure the availability of low-priced, quality drugs especially to the poor people, thousands of Botika ng Barangay are also established in the barangays or barrios nationwide.
Making medicines more affordable to the Filipinos is a major concern for the government and has been a platform issue of the administration.
(PIA)