Buying medicines without going to the drugstore

MANILA, Philippines - Karen Pacia, executive assistant to the president of an Ortigas-based public relations firm, says she does not have to fall in line at the drugstore to buy her mom’s medicines. She just calls telephone number 988-1888 to place her order, and her mom gets the medicines in their Parañaque apartment in less than two hours.

“I used to buy my mom’s hypertension medicines at a drugstore in the mall after work,” relates Pacia. “The long line is always a waste of time, until a friend gave me a number to try.”

The innovative service is the brainchild of HealthyLife, a company that has been offering all the services of a retail drugstore since May last year through a convenient door-to-door delivery at no extra charge. But more than delivery, the company adds value to its services by helping customers adhere to their medication by reminding them if it’s time to replenish their supply.

“It is probably the biggest innovation in retail medicine here in the country since the birth of our local drugstores,” notes Dr. Gregorio Ocampo of Makati Medical Center. “HealthyLife’s prompt medicine delivery system of branded and generic drugs, coupled with its proactive service of reminding patients about their medication, may actually save patients’ lives in the long run.”

According to Dr. Ocampo, failure to follow prescriptions is a significant health issue among Filipinos. “It is called ‘adherence gap’ and is considered a major concern by the World Health Organization. Patients who have chronic medical conditions like hypertension often fail to follow their medication as prescribed by their doctor. As a result, they fail to get the desired result of the treatment.”

Customers who place orders can choose to register in HealthyLife’s patient database where information about their attending physician and prescribed medication is stored and kept confidential. HealthyLife’s prescription refill prompter then reminds customers when they are about to exhaust their supply.

Further, the prompter can also remind patients about their doctor appointments three days prior to their required visit.

HealthyLife’s delivery service is not exclusive to Metro Manila as the company also receives orders from nearby provinces. The company has over 2,000 registered customers, and the list continues to grow. Senior citizens can also avail of the 20-percent discount on medicine provided by law.

Customers who want their medicine delivered fast and free can avail themselves of HealthyLife’s services by calling 988-1888 or by placing their orders online at www.healthylife.com.ph. They can also text “Call Me” to (0917)829-1888, or fax their medication to 988-1886.