The Makati City government is now offering free full doses of multivitamins and maintenance medications to over 30,000 senior citizens aged 60 to 69, as well as persons with disabilities (PWDs), Mayor Abigail Binay announced on Friday.
This expansion will directly benefit 15,149 senior citizens in the 60-69 age group and 15,748 registered PWDs in Makati City. This initiative aims to provide essential medications at no cost through Planet Drugstores located within health centers, Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), and Makati Life Medical Center.
Previously, only senior citizens aged 70 and above were eligible to receive full doses of maintenance medications under the free medicines program. Other beneficiaries, including those under 70, PWDs, and city government employees, received only half a month’s supply of maintenance medications.
“After careful consideration, we are giving full access to maintenance medicines and vitamins to more of our people who need them most. We believe it will bring them great relief, especially with the looming price increases caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” Mayor Abby said.
The enhanced program represents a major step forward in her administration’s commitment to providing accessible healthcare for our most vulnerable residents.
During her nine-year term, the OsMak has reported nearly five million free healthcare interactions delivered to almost two million patients.
This initiative builds on Makati’s established healthcare infrastructure, which includes OsMak’s 92-percent recovery rate and comprehensive services that have already treated nearly two million patients.
Over the past nine years, special healthcare programs have provided life-saving services to thousands of patients.
Notably, the Unli Dialysis program, which began in 2017, has served 32,951 patients requiring kidney treatment. Additionally, the subsidized Ambulatory Chemotherapy Program has provided cancer treatment to 11,364 qualified patients since its launch in September 2017.
