DOH 6 tells drugstores to grant senior citizen discount properly
The Department of Health 6 Licensing and Regulation Enforcement Division has advised all drug stores in Western Visayas to implement the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 to avoid predicament.
Delia Tarrosa, chief of LRED, said the implementation of the law is compulsory not only for drugstores but all for businesses that sell basic necessities and prime commodities covered by the law.
Tarrosa said drug retailers like drugstores should not wait for the guidelines before implementing the law.
“It was approved already and it should be implemented,” she said.
Tarrosa also warned drug retailers against overpricing. She said that some drug retailers might double their prices to replace the discount percentage given to senior citizens.
Through this act, senior citizens could enjoy the following: discount privileges, free services, exemptions, incentives, government financial assistance, and priority in express lanes.
Aside from these, they are also entitled of the 20 percent VAT exemption, avail discount on basic necessities and prime commodities which include 20 percent discount on the purchase of certain goods and services; 5 percent discount on prime commodities and basic necessities; 5 percent utility discount on electric and water consumption; and 50 percent discount on electric, water and telephone consumption of senior citizens centers and residential or group homes.
Also they can avail of 20 percent discount in, among others, the purchase of medicines, including the purchase of influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, and such other essential medical supplies, accessories and equipment;
Professional fees of attending physician/s in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics and home health care services; professional fees of licensed professional health workers providing home health care services as endorsed by private hospitals or employed through home health care employment agencies; and,
Medical and dental services, diagnostic and laboratory fees in all private hospitals, medical facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health care services, in accordance with the rules and regulations to be issued by the DOH, in coordination with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.
