DOH offers free medicines to diabetics, hypertensives

HERE’S a bit of good news to sweeten the pill of rising medical bills for diabetics and hypertensives.

Starting January, the Department of Health (DOH) will provide those suffering from diabetes and hypertension—two interrelated conditions—with free daily maintenance medication to help ease the burden of out­of­pocket medical costs, especially among the poor.

Health Secretary Janette Garin on Friday announced that drugs for diabetes and hypertension, namely, Metformin and Losartan, Amlodipine, Metoprolol, respectively, would be distributed on a monthly basis next year.

Garin said some one million Filipinos with diabetes and three million others with hypertension would benefit from the program although it would be limited to members of the DOH Hypertension and Diabetes Club.

To become a member, patients must go to the nearest health center or primary health care facility to undergo assessment, screening and management using the Philippine Package of Essential NCD (noncommunicable disease) Intervention protocol.

Those diagnosed with either one or both of the diseases would be enrolled in the DOH Hypertension and Diabetes Club, said Garin.

Aside from the free medication, club members will also enjoy activities that promote a healthy lifestyle to control blood pressure and sugar levels and prevent further complications, she said.

NCDs such as cardiovascular conditions and diabetes remain the top causes of death in the Philippines. Based on DOH records, at least 33 percent of deaths nationwide are related to heart diseases, 10 percent to cancer, six percent to diabetes and five percent to chronic respiratory diseases.