FDA reminds drugstores of 20% senior citizen’s discount

Tablets and capsules of medicines. Contributed photo

MANILA, Philippines —   The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday reminded all drugstores and hospitals to grant a 20 percent discount on medicines purchased by senior citizens.

In FDA advisory 2024-0429 dated February 28, the agency also reminded senior citizens or their representatives to present any of the following identification documents upon purchase of medicines:

•  ID card issued by the city or municipal mayor of the Office for Senior Citizens Affairs or barangay captain
• Philippine passport of the senior citizen
• Other documents that prove that the senior citizen is a Filipino and at least 60 years of age (driver’s license, voter’s ID, Social Security System or Government Service Insurance System ID, Professional Regulation Commission card, postal ID, and others)

The FDA also cited Section IV.2 of Administrative Order No. 2012-0007 entitled “Guidelines on the Grant of 20% Discount to Senior Citizens on Health-Related Goods and for Other Purposes,” which defined medicines as “prescription and nonprescription/over-the-counter drugs, both generic and branded.”

These include vitamin and mineral supplements medically prescribed by attending physicians and approved by the health department and the FDA for  use in diagnosis, care, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

READ: Reminder to seniors: Discounts total 32%

The FDA noted that food, devices or their components, parts, and accessories are not included in the items that can be discounted.

Senior citizens were likewise reminded to always bring their purchase slip booklet when buying medicines.