Program to give maintenance meds to Cebu City residents

CEBU, Philippines — Promising ?30 million worth of free maintenance medicines good for an entire year, outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia announced the launching of the Medicine Maintenance Program at the Apas Super Family Health Center, just a few days before his exit from office.

Garcia said he is expecting to cater to over 30,000 beneficiaries, including but not limited to senior citizens who may be eligible for this program.

“Dili lang maintenance medicines nga pang one week or one month, this is really good for 365 days or one whole year,” Garcia said.

Garcia, aged 48, who is also taking maintenance medicine for hypertension, shared that maintenance medicine is not only for senior citizens, hence why he emphasized that the program will also cover other age groups.

Additionally, he also said that the medicines arrived later than promised due to bureaucracy delaying the processes.

“Pero I’m happy nga naabot na g’yud finally ang tambal, ?30 million worth, so this will be enough for over, akong gi-estimate, is even 30,000 to 40,000 beneficiaries,” he said.

He also said some barangay health centers have already identified eligible beneficiaries for this program, and other barangays who have yet to identify eligible targets shall request the City Health Office to conduct a barangay consultation to check up patients and give them a prescription.

“Di man ta maka-dispose ug dispense ug tambal kung wala’y valid receipt coming from a doctor,” he explained.

He reassured that as long as patients have a valid receipt from a medical expert, they are eligible to obtain free maintenance medicines from the city government.

Garcia added that as his term is coming to an end, he hopes the next administration will continue the distribution of these medicines.

“Whatever way ilang buhaton, I am amenable for it. Ang importante, nasugdan,” he said.

When asked if the distribution of the medicines is only “until supplies last”, Garcia replied that he has estimated the supply to last at least a year.

In November of last year, Garcia previously announced plans to provide free maintenance medicines to over 90,000 senior citizens by January of this year.

The budget allocation for the aforementioned program was ?70 million, dedicated to the “Drugs and Medicines-Preventive Maintenance and Nutrition Program”. —  Joseph Adrian Leyson (FREEMAN)