Care that goes beyond basic medication

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Families are more directly involved in providing care for the elderly. But when it comes to continuous compliance to medication, programs that could help ensure holistic care to every local community’s senior citizen can already go a long way.

This is why Pharex HealthCorp., the most prescribed brand of medicines, worked hand-in-hand with Makati Development Corporation (MDC) to reach local communities in the country to make high-quality medicines more accessible to senior citizens and their relatives.

According to Dr. Amado Nazal, Pharex Medical Director specializing in internal medicine and pulmonary diseases, the joint venture between MDC and Pharex has been a fruitful engagement because it serves as “a way to give back to the people the blessings that both companies received.”

Through MDC’s medical outreach program “Kalusugan Aktibo sa Komunidad,” Pharex was able to distribute free Compliance Pouches for high cholesterol that’s good for 15 days to the older adults residing in Brgy. Pitogo, Makati City.

Dr. Nazal said, “Basically, Pharex’s role in the medical mission is to provide medicines for free to the patients who will consult in the medical mission. The provision of free medicines is a big help to the patients, enabling them to immediately start their treatment.”

One of the patients who benefited from this cause is Catalina Ortiz, 87, who currently battles high levels of bad cholesterol.

According to her guardian Ceres Ortiz, 67, her mother has been taking medication to control her high cholesterol levels for eight years now. She said, “My mother has been experiencing headache and dizziness, that’s why we changed her everyday routine. We made sure that only fruits, vegetables and fish are served in front of her, along with her daily dose of medication.”

“When we went to MDC’s medical outreach program, we were surprised to see that Pharex now offers compliance medicines for high cholesterol. I, myself, am a Pharex loyal user and it’s really helpful that the brand I trust can now help my mother better adhere to her medication,” the younger Ortiz said.

The new Pharex Compliance Pouch for high cholesterol allows patients to adhere to their medication for 15 days while saving up to 50 percent more.

“The 15-day Pharex Compliance Pouch for high cholesterol is an innovation that promotes compliance to maintenance medications. This provides the supply of medicines for half a month, giving less chance for missed doses,” Dr. Nazal emphasized. “The packaging is just the right size and it is resealable because of the innovative zip-lock technology that allows the patient to bring with him the pouch and to open and close it without compromising the quality of medications.”

He continued, “Our objective is for more patients to realize that there is a Pharex brand of medicines that is of good quality but affordable and within their reach. This is why we partnered with MDC—this enabled us to expand our reach to more people and to increase awareness of the Pharex brand by more people in the community.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Mike Miranda—the medical director of MDC—said that Pharex has been a trusted partner of the company and they are looking forward to prolong the partnership as it accomplishes its year-long community outreach.

“We believe that Pharex is a strong partner in providing free medicines. We value that, that’s why we’re looking forward to continue the partnership with them in terms of logistics of their free medicines and other discounted products,” Dr. Miranda said. “We are tapping the company for our entire calendar of activities this year, which will also engage our different operation centers across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.”

Dr. Nazal concluded, “It gives Pharex a sense of fulfillment that it is able to serve the community even in just a small way.  It’s an opportunity for the company to serve the less fortunate members of the community by way of the provision of free medicines. For us, it will always be a corporate social responsibility to share what the company has to people especially those who cannot afford to sustain their medications.”

The new Pharex Compliance Pouch is now available in all leading drugstores. For more information, please contact 4338088 (local 820).