Davao City—The City Government has launched the Botika ng Bayan to cater to the medical needs of not just Davaoeños but residents of other nearby regions.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio led the launching and blessing of the Botika ng Bayan, a public pharmacy where people can gain free medicines to help cover their medical needs.
The Botika ng Bayan was launched through the Department of Health, which vowed to maintain the pharmacy’s supplies. It is located at the Lingala compound beside the Southern Philippines Medical Center.
“I am very grateful to the Department of Health for helping us establish the Botika ng Bayan. It is a big help to the people, especially that the medicines are given here for free,” the mayor said.
Josephine Mitaran, Lingap Para sa Mahirap program officer in charge, said the Botika ng Bayan will give out maintenance medicines for most diseases.
“We can give as much as a one-month supply of medication. The amount of medicine that we will give will depend on the needed medicine of the patient. All they have to do is bring their prescription here,” Mitaran said.
Even patients in private hospitals may ask for medicines in the Botika ng Bayan, she added.
Mayor Duterte-Carpio also requested the DOH through Assistant Secretary Abdullah Dumama to extend the Botika ng Bayan to the 17 districts in the city.
“I asked Asec. Dumama and his response was positive. I told our City Health Office to coordinate with DOH,” she said.
Dumama said the department will open more Botika ng Bayan in the different parts of the country as well to cater to more Filipinos.
“For now, patients in other areas may come and ask for medicine at the Botika ng Bayan here in Davao, but when the time comes that we have already put up the same project in their area, then they will be referred to their place,” Dumama said.