Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan Calls on Government to Eliminate Medicine Booklet Requirement for PWDs as Well
KIKO PANGILINAN – Former Senator Francis Pangilinan has called on the government to remove the purchase booklet requirement for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Former Senator Francis Pangilinan has called on the government to simplify the process for persons with disabilities (PWDs) to access their 20-percent discount on medicines by removing the requirement for a purchase booklet. This follows the recent move by the Department of Health (DOH) to scrap the same requirement for senior citizens.
Based on a report from Philstar, Pangilinan’s appeal comes in response to DOH Administrative Order (AO) 2024-0017, which eliminated the need for senior citizens to present a purchase booklet to avail of their mandatory discount on medicines. He urged the DOH to extend the same consideration to PWDs, highlighting how this would significantly reduce their burden.
“Like what they did for our senior citizens, we ask the DOH to remove the booklet requirement for our PWDs to get a discount on medicine,” Pangilinan said. “This is a big help to ease the process for them in buying medicines and other medical needs.”
The former senator emphasized that a valid PWD ID and a doctor’s prescription should suffice for PWDs to claim the discount provided by law.
Currently, under DOH AO 2017-0008, which implements Republic Act 10754, PWDs are required to present a purchase booklet similar to the ones used by senior citizens. Pangilinan’s proposal seeks to amend this practice, making the process more accessible and less cumbersome for PWDs.
Pangilinan has been a long-time advocate for the welfare of PWDs. As the principal author of Republic Act 10070, he pushed for the creation of PWD Affairs Offices in every province, city, and municipality. These offices aim to ensure the effective implementation of programs and services tailored to the needs of PWDs.
According to the report, removing the booklet requirement, Pangilinan argued, would align with the government’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, especially for marginalized sectors.
The proposed change highlights the need for continued reforms to address the challenges faced by vulnerable groups in accessing essential health services.